Alleged CPP chief arrested in Negros

BACOLOD CITY – An alleged leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines linked to the discovery of mass graves in Leyte was arrested by police intelligence operatives in Bago City, Negros Occidental while conducting consultations with farmers’ groups.

Operatives from the Negros Occidental Police Command, along with policemen from the Bago PNP, arrested Randal Echaniz, 60, of Pateros, Rizal on Monday by virtue of an arrest warrant for the crime of multiple murder issued by Leyte Judge Ephraim Abando.

Echaniz, together with exiled CPP leader Jose Maria Sison and Sectoral Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, is facing charges for 15 counts of murder in Hilongos, Leyte, police records show.

Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Ro­sendo Franco also said that they are validating information that Echaniz also chairs the Peasant Committee of CPP, a political wing of the New People’s Army.

The arrest of Echaniz, however, was denounced by militant groups, claiming that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Carl Ala, information officer of the Kilusang Magbu­bukid sa Pilipinas, said Echa­niz is not a CPP Central Committee member but a KMP external deputy secretary general who is in Negros for consultations with farmers groups in preparation for the national rural congress.

He added that Echaniz could not have taken part in the summary execution of those people buried in alleged mass graves in Leyte during the 1980’s as he was detained at Bicutan during that time.

Sara Alvarez of Karapa­tan-Negros, in an interview with Aksyon Radyo, that the arrested person was not Echaniz but Rodolfo “Rudy” de Castro, a KMP member.