Palawan WESCOM obtains warrant vs suspected NPA squad leader

By Ines B. Tagacay

THE WESTERN Command Headquarters (WESCOM) was able to obtain a warrant of arrest from the Palawan Regional Trial Court (RTC) against suspected Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) member Wilson Mangao and is now challenging his lawyer and family to present him and his wife in court.

Lt. Col. Jacinto De Vera, spokesperson of the WESCOM and head of the 6^th Civil Relations Office (CRG), said during a media conference on April 30 that Atty. Peter Jimbo Maristela, the suspect’s lawyer, should present his client like he promised if they find enough evidence.

Mangao, alias Ka Macmac, Tsong, Ka Kurt and Roa, and his wife Christene Butaca, were ordered released by the local court after the Task Force Myna that arrested them failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove their connection to the CPP-NPA in Palawan.

“I am asking Atty. Maristela to make good with his promise to present Wilson Mangao like what he said before that if we come out with enough evidence, he will present any of the two,” De Vera said.

Mangao and Butaca were arrested on January 26 in Bataraza while attending a sibling’s wedding of the latter by the Joint Task Force Myna of the WESCOM and the PNP.

Their arrest was due to Criminal Case #1808, a murder case filed a long time ago against Mangao who is purportedly involved in the slaying of Agustin Javarez on January 17, 2003 in Barangay Marufinas.

Military and police authorities are claiming also that Mangao is the squadron leader of the CPP-NPA in northern Palawan, while Butaca is allegedly the logistic officer of Kilusang Sangay sa Platoon North (KSPN).

De Vera said the warrant of arrest means that Mangao and Butaca are being given their days in court, or the chance to prove their innocence. On getting more evidence against the two, he said it is the military’s job to protect the welfare of the people of Palawan.

Maristela, on the other hand, was surprised to learn that he made a promise to De Vera or other authorities before. In an interview with Palawan Times, Mangao’s lawyer said he has never spoken to De Vera and neither has he with any other WESCOM officials.

“I was surprised by what he said that I promised to surrender Macmac. I never made such commitment. In fact, I haven’t met De Vera personally and I do not know him by face. How will I tell him that I will present my clients when I haven’t spoken to him,” he said.

Maristela is also baffled why military and police authorities would continue to mention Javarez murder when it is not the focal point at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office but the ambush in Taytay.

“What I know is that they continue to link my client in the murder of Javarez in Marufinas, but it was never discussed in the PPO that’s why we never took any action against it,” he stated.

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