Local News: NBI: Breakdown of Discipline in RPA-ABB

"It is unfortunate that the breakaway group Revolutionary Proletarian Army - Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) has been relegated in some cases into a hit group hiding behind the skirt of their organization and bringing firearms, loitering outside their designated camps in the province, which they are not authorized to do."

Thus said the head agent of the local National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Atty. Ferdinand Lavin in an interview yesterday.

"There is, too, a breakdown of discipline which does not benefit the organization and the public as a whole," Lavin who was assigned to head the NBI in the province and who according to many has performed credibility well, also said.

It is possible that they are doing this to invoke the possibility that they could use the alibi that they have committed a political crime which is a separate act which could be invoked by political groups, to free officers and members of liability in committing the crime.

They are also raising a diversionary issue to detract people from the fact that they were hired to do a hit job, the killing of a very prominent person, which would also allow them to recant their earlier statement upon the advice of some people.

While suspects are being detained on illegal possession of firearms charges, a preliminary investigation of on the alleged killing of Judge Henry Arles will soon be conducted.

The crime attributed to the suspected killers of Arles is no longer an ideological on political case but which is clearly a criminal one, a paid hit job.

Besides, the NBI suspects that there may be other members of the group, RPA-ABB of having committed other criminal acts and if not investigated and made public, the province may become a wild, wild west, with various criminal syndicates emboldened to go on with what they are doing and for monetary reasons. This is something which would not be beneficial to the public to peace and order, said Lavin. These acts would no longer be ideological in nature and are purely criminal ones which the NBI is duty-bound to prevent.

Lavin also reiterated the fact that the suspects now in NBI custody in Manila have never been physically harmed, not third-degreed or inflicted any physical harm of any kind.

NNF/NDB also learned that the three suspects have not signed any statement recanting their earlier testimonies, nor have they verbally stated so openly. It is only their alliance organization and their spokesmen who are claiming they were harmed.*(EAC)