20 NPAs charged for Batangas arson

Batangas, Philippines – Charges were filed against 20 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, including a female member of the so-called “Morong 43,” for the torching of eight buses of Jam Liner at its terminal in Lemery town last Sunday morning.

Senior Superintendent Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police director, said charges of arson and robbery were filed against a certain Janice Javier, an alleged NPA member who was positively identified by witnesses as among the attackers, and 19 John Does.

Fidel said Javier’s picture was in the police rogues’ gallery as she was among the “Morong 43” arrested in Morong, Rizal on Feb. 6, 2010 for alleged possession of firearms and explosives.

The group referred to 43 health workers, many of whom were tagged by police and the military as NPA members, including one Ramon/Romeo de la Cruz who was killed in an encounter with the Army in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan on Aug. 9 last year. 

Police earlier released the composite facial sketches of two of the arsonists – a man and a woman, who was later identified as Javier. – With Ed Amoroso