Ex-officials of government employees' group nabbed in Bulacan

Two former officers of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) were arrested allegedly by operatives from the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Saturday due to illegal possession of firearms and explosives, human rights group Karapatan said on Tuesday.

In a press release, Karapatan said Oliver Rosales and his wife Rowena Rosales were boarding their tricycle last Saturday in Barangay Wawa in Balagtas, Bulacan when they were forcibly taken by 10 PNP-CIDG men who were all wearing civilian clothes and face masks.

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said that during the incident, Rowena was shown a warrant of arrest for "trumped-up charges" of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, noting that it was the same warrant used against COURAGE member Juan Alexander Reyes last June 2.

The couple was immediately brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City for questioning.

Karapatan said the couple was summoned to the investigator's area on August 12 and pieces of evidence were allegedly planted on them.

"On the table were two guns, one grenade bullets and bags. Oliver, at the time of their arrest, did not carry any bag. Rowena only brought a small sling bag, certainly not able to carry the firearms that they are accused of owning. They were made to sit on the table while photos of them were being taken," Palabay said.

"This is another case of the CIDG’s script writing and brazen planting of evidence. This is not the first instance of them showing their skulduggery and disregard for human rights, nor will it be the last. The CIDG is trained at political persecution. They have become experts at planting evidence and filing trumped-up charges; experts at making guns appear where there are none," she added.

GMA News Online is still trying to reach PNP-CIDG for comment regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Benigno Durana said "serving warrant of arrest issued by judicial authorities is a constitutional mandate that law enforcers must abide."

Durana vowed that policemen would perform this duty while also considering the human rights of suspects.

"We will perform this mandate without fear or favor but with due consideration to the human rights and dignity of the accused," Durana said in a text message.

Karapatan has demanded for the immediate release of the Rosales couple. —KG, GMA News