Former NPA rebel confirms wife among 'Morong 43'

MANILA, Philippines - A former NPA rebel has confirmed that his wife was among the 43 health workers arrested by the military in Morong, Rizal.

Ranie Popetco, who went by the name “Ka Davis” when he was still with the NPA, claimed his wife Lea de Luna is still with the rebel movement.

Popetco said he only learned of the arrest of his wife, who allegedly went to Rizal to attend a seminar as part of her assignment as a health worker with the NPA, in the news.

Popetco and De Luna met while they were in the NPA and have two children, with De Luna who is already eight years with the NPA.

Popetco was with the NPA for seven years before he surrendered on March 29, 2009. De Luna, he said, has been with the NPA for eight years. He had tried but failed to convince his wife to go with him when he surrendered last year.

Popetco claimed to have been a ranking NPA leader, holding the position of vice commanding officer of the Sangay sa Partido Pampropaganda operating in the provinces of Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales.

He said the government has promised to help his wife by providing a good lawyer.

Popetco spoke to reporters yesterday at ceremonies awarding cash incentives to 25 NPA returnees held at the military’s Northern Luzon Command.

Meanwhile, the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) said yesterday the military has victimized other health workers and rural doctors by accusing them of being members of the NPA I order to claim success in its anti-insurgency campaign.

HEAD chairman Dr. Geneve Rivera said Malacañang has given the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) full authority to crackdown on all suspected NPA fronts.

Rivera cited cases of doctors in Davao, Kalinga and Cebu who were allegedly harassed, even killed, by the military.

“These attacks shared several things: they were all politically motivated, they were all directed against those who serve marginalized communities or underserved sectors, they were justified by the military through Red-baiting and ‘Left’ or ‘NPA’ accusations,” Rivera said.

Militant groups continued to press the government and the military to free the 43 health workers, denying that they were NPA rebels. – Ric Sapnu, Mayen Jaymalin