(CMFR/IFEX) – Two alleged members of a communist rebel group were recently arrested by police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with an attack on an outside broadcast (OB) van owned by network giant ABS-CBN. The NBI presented the two suspects, Jongkol Francisco and Teodoro Fuentes, who are believed to be members […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – Two alleged members of a communist rebel group were recently arrested by police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with an attack on an outside broadcast (OB) van owned by network giant ABS-CBN.
The NBI presented the two suspects, Jongkol Francisco and Teodoro Fuentes, who are believed to be members of the Rebolusyonaryong Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB), to the media on 2 March 2005.
At least three witnesses identified Francisco and Fuentes as part of the gang of six or seven men who set fire to the van at dawn on 11 January. The van is reportedly valued at P35 million (approx. US$625,000).
Francisco was arrested in Muntinlupa City after a series of follow-up investigations in the case. According to the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) deputy chief, Luisito Palmera, Francisco was also identified as having been involved in an assassination case and in an encounter with government forces in the northern province of Nueva Ecija.
Fuentes was arrested by the Marikina City police for another crime, which involved a homicide.
During the preliminary investigation, Fuentes admitted to taking part in the burning of the van, but claimed that those involved in the attack “were just following orders” from the RPA-ABB.
NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco said the crime was “uncharacteristically ABB.” The group is known more for assassinating political or law enforcement figures.
In a press statement, the RPA-ABB denied having had anything to do with the burning of the ABS-CBN van. The statement signed by Miguel Guevarra, commanding officer of the group’s Luzon Operational Command, accused the NBI of engaging in “dirty tactics” by trying to portray the RPA-ABB in a bad light. However, the rebel group referred to Francisco and Fuentes as their “comrades.”
Wycoco said that the NBI was continuing to investigate the motive behind the van burning, adding that the bureau was questioning two other suspects who are in their custody.
“Although we already have four suspects in custody, we chose to present only two, as we are still investigating the background of the other two,” Wycoco explained.
The police said they are closely guarding the suspects to prevent an escape and any complications in the case.
The head of the Philippine National Police’s Directorate for Intelligence, Robert Delfin, said the attack on the ABS-CBN van was apparently an “alternative tactic”, following the rebels’ failure to attack the network’s main tower in Quezon City in November 20004.
On 11 January, one hour after the burning of the ABS-CBN van, a television station received an e-mail from an unidentified sender who claimed responsibility for the crime. The NBI subsequently discovered that the e-mail was sent from a computer shop in Diliman, Quezon City, which in turn, led to further investigations by the NBI and police.
In a statement faxed to the media, ABS-CBN said it was pleased to learn that several suspects had been apprehended in connection with the burning of the network’s van.
