By Mar Gabriel
Eagle News Service
Around 50 members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) staged a protest on Thursday to call for the release of NDFP consultant Rafael Baylosis and his companion, who were arrested by authorities the day before.
“Iligal (ang pagkakaaresto) sa kanila. Hindi dumaan sa proseso,” Jerome Adonis, secretary general of the Kilusang Mayo Uno said in front of Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Adonis argued that the arrest of Baylosis and Guillermo Roque was only pure harassment.
Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa denied, however, that this was the case.
“Sa amin trabaho lang, walang personalan. Alangan namang pabayaan natin sila diyang pakalat kalat na gumagawa ng problema sa Pilipinas. They are enemies of the state…Kami naman gusto namin mahuli sila. Ganun lang yun kasimple,” he said.
He noted that their arrest was “product of intelligence operation.”
“And yun, nakita siya doon may dalang baril, inaresto,” Dela Rosa explained.
Also recovered from the two were 14 ammunition, two magazines and documents, among others.
Dela Rosa said charges for illegal possession of firearms will be filed against the two, who are now in Criminal Investigation and Detection Group custody.
Baylosis is the first Communist leader to be arrested following the official termination of peace talks.