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AFP: 43 nabbed in doc’s home are ‘rebel trainees’


(Updated 5:55 pm) Forty-three suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were arrested on Saturday while allegedly conducting explosives training in a private residence in Morong town, Rizal province, an Army spokesman said. Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, civil-military operations chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said in a text message on Saturday that 17 men and 26 women believed to be members of the rebel group were arrested by a combined team of local police and Army troops of the 16th Infantry Battalion, while holding an assembly at a house in Maybangcal village. Initial investigation showed that the suspected rebels were conducting a training on how to make improvised explosives when they were nabbed by authorities, Detoyato said. A cal. 45 pistol, a cal. 38 revolver, three hand grenades, and materials for making improvised explosive devices such as blasting caps, explosive sticks, and ammonium nitrate were seized during the operation. Health workers from the group Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) however condemned the raid of the house, which they said was owned by Dr. Melecia Velmonte. HEAD secretary-general Dr. Geneve Rivera said in a statement on Saturday that those arrested by authorities were community health workers and doctors, who were conducting a health skills training in Velmonte’s residence. According to the HEAD statement, Velmonte is a "renowned and respected infectious disease specialist and her farmhouse is the regular venue of health trainings, with participants coming from both the communities and the academe." Rivera added that the arrest of the health workers was "illegal" and was only done "to sow disorder and instigate turmoil" in the area. Meanwhile, Rizal provincial police officials are currently undertaking an investigation to determine what cases to file against the suspected rebels. – Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV
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