Militant lawyer denies link in August cell site blast

MANILA, Philippines – Militant group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) has denied any involvement in the bombing of a Globe cell site last August. In a statement, the said that its chief legal counsel, Remigio Saladero Jr, was tagged as one of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who blew up the cell site in Lemery town in Batangas Province. Saladero is currently facing arson charges based on a sworn statement by certain Arvin Martinez Leviste, who said the KMU counsel is an NPA member. Saladero, on the other hand, disputed Leviste’s claims. "I have never known this impostor. Everyday I am busied by attending to various labor cases due to rampant repressions by managements, how can I have the time to go to the mountains?" Saladero said. "We are confident that the arson case will be discredited, and are now studying to file a counter-charge of perjury against Leviste," he added. The KMU statement said Saladero learned only last week that his name and picture, together with 18 other leaders of legal progressive organizations in Southern Tagalog, was included in the memorandum for preliminary investigation of the Batangas City Prosecutor. The KMU the accusations hurled against Saladero is part of the Arroyo administration’s “harassment” on left-wing groups hidden under the guise of her Oplan Bantay Laya Program (OBL2) "These are renewed attempts of the Arroyo regime, under the package of Oplan Batay Laya (OBL2), to crush legal organizations who oppose her exploitative rule," said KMU Executive Vice President Joselito Ustarez. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV