By Nanette Guadalquiver | Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303rd IBde) dismissed allegations of leftist groups regarding the recent arrest of a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) at Sitio Montara, Barangay Kamang-kamang in Isabela, Negros Occidental.
Harlyn “Karyll” Balora, a resident of this city, was apprehended in a joint military and police operation on Feb. 19 intended to serve an arrest warrant for homicide to CPP-NPA leader Romeo Nanta alias “Juanito Magbanua”.
Nanta evaded arrest, but the government troops instead found Balora in the area in possession of firearms with ammunition and explosives.
In a statement on Wednesday (Feb. 23), Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd IBde, lauded the operating personnel for the arrest of Balora, a constant companion of Nanta, and denied reports the operation was a “setup.”
“All statements coming from these leftist groups or organizations were fabricated and propaganda just to cover up the clear violations of the arrested Harlyn Balora,” he said.
Pasaporte added it was a legal joint law enforcement operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and no human rights violation or illegal arrest occurred.
“She is a companion of a criminal with an existing warrant of arrest. How will they explain that? Again, activism is not a crime, but supporting terrorism is a crime,” the Army official said.
During the operation, the troops confiscated from Balora, who is also known as “Karyle” and “Cristel Hestoria”, a 9mm Luger pistol with serial number 910673 loaded with one live ammunition, a KG9 magazine loaded with eight pieces of live ammunition, three pieces cartridge of 40mm grenade, high-explosive dual-purpose M433 explosives, and a fragmentation grenade.
The items were endorsed by the operating personnel to the Isabela Municipal Police Station (MPS), where Balora was brought after she underwent a physical checkup at the Isabela Health Center.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9516 (Illegal/Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, Dealing In, Acquisition or Disposition of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives) are being prepared against Balora.
The joint operation was conducted by personnel of the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company and Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and Isabela MPS together with the troops of the 303rd IBde and 94th Infantry Battalion.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA) – bny
