The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas today condemned the continuing illegal detention and abuse of at least seven elderly revolutionaries, along with two prisoners of war, held under duress by different units of the military and police in Samar.
“We call on all champions of international humanitarian law (IHL), including human rights defenders, church people, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Commission on Human Rights, to help us guarantee the safety of our comrades who remain in detention without cases filed against them or legal representation to defend themselves,” the NDF-EV said.
The elderly victims, who were wrongfully imprisoned from 2021 to 2025, have all retired from active revolutionary work since 2020 and are considered as civilians by virtue of the IHL.
Most recent victims are the Basilga family—composed of couple Diosdado and Lilia, and their son, Arvin—who were illegally arrested by forces of the 20th Infantry Battalion in Northern Samar this year. The elderly couple retired from active revolutionary work in 2019 due to illnesses and physical limitations, while their son never joined the NPA as a combatant but remains in detention with them.
Revolutionary cadres Bartolome “Ka Talyo” Alegria Admanan and his wife “Ka Mamay” are also being held by the 801st Infantry Brigade and are imprisoned near a militar camp in Barangay Dao, Oras, Eastern Samar. The two were captured in 2024 despite being retired since 2020 due to old age and illness.
Bartolome in particular was coerced to join the military brigade’s psychological warfare operations in Barangay San Jose, Mapanas, Northern Samar. “That he ‘voluntarily surrendered’ or that he has turned his back on his revolutionary principles is disproved by his speech to peasant folk where he said “Maano pa man, rebolusyon pa man an tama” (Whatever happens, it is still correct to wage revolution).”
“The soldiers were even quick to stop him from talking,” the NDF-EV said.
The Admanan and Basilga couples add to the list of other retired revolutionaries who were illegally arrested: Rosalina “Ka Ansay” Esponilla (captured in 2022), Rosita Solayao “Ka Laling” Taboy (captured in 2023), and Antonio Pondang “Ka Beto” Legaspi (captured in 2023).
The NDF-EV said they are concerned for the victims’ well-being, “especially because the AFP-PNP are notorious violators of the Geneva Conventions, of their own Code of Conduct or laws such as the Republic Act No. 9851.”
In 2022, state forces in Samar killed retired revolutionary Bryan “Tanel” Obiado (by the 20[th] IB), elderly couple Amado “Ka Butil/Boy” and Maria Norie “Ka Tutri” Adelantar (by the PNP), and elderly couple Rodrigo Mejica “Ka Akag/Kute” Lorezo and Delia Rosco “Ka Mema” Rotamula (by the 87[th] IB). They were all summarily killed and then planted with guns to make it appear they died in an armed encounter.
“Such crimes put our detained comrades in precarious circumstances. As long as they are held by the fascist state troops they live in fear of sufferring the same fate as our murdered comrades. For many years they served the revolution and the masses, and thus have no resources to gain access to a lawyer or to defend themselves against their captors,” the NDF-EV said.
No due process for captured Red fighters
The NDF-EV also expressed grave concern for the safety of Red fighters Nonoy “Ka Aye” Linay and Ann “Ka Tin-tin” Toling, who were taken prisoner after an armed encounter with the 46[th] IB in Barangay Concepcion, Paranas, Samar last September 13.
Toling was severely wounded and brought to a hospital but remains under constant surveillance and pressure by the 801[st] Infantry Brigade. Linay, on the other hand, was uninjured and brought to a military camp. He is being held without access to a lawyer or his family.
“Prisoners of war should enjoy the right to due process as guaranteed by the IHL,” the NDF-EV insisted. “”We are concerned that Toling and Linay are being subjected to the same physical, emotional and mental torture that other imprisoned Red fighters have endured.”
In 2023, at least 10 Red fighters were abducted and tortured at the 8[th] Infantry Division headquarters in Barangay Maulong, Catbalogan City. Two of them were mothers with their newborns. All of them were never allowed to contact their family or be represented by a lawyer. No cases were filed against them despite being held captive for months.
“We vehemently condemn this ever worsening state of human rights in Eastern Visayas. It is injustice that led our comrades to tread the path of revolution, and the continuing violation of their basic rights in captivity all the more underscores the fact that there can be no justice for as long as the current rotten system prevails,” the NDF-EV ended.
