Police file explosives possession raps vs Bishop Morales, et al

By LITO RULONA
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

POLICE on Friday pressed charges of explosives possession against an alleged communist rebel leader, Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Carlo Morales and his wife and driver.

The complaint was filed with the Ozamiz City Prosecutor’s Office a day after soldiers and police officers arrested Morales and his wife Maria Teofila Losaria, alleged rebel leader Rommel Salinas, and driver Isadome Gamorot Dalid in Barangay Gango, Ozamiz.

Ozamiz police director Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido said Salinas and Bishop Morales were the primary respondents while the bishop’s wife and the driver were accused of being accessories.

Morales and his wife and driver were also charged with harboring a fugitive. Salinas is wanted for a string of criminal cases, including murder.

Bishop Felixberto Calang of the IFI in Cagayan de Oro cpndemned the arrest of Bishop Morales and his wife and driver, calling it an “injustice.”

“Dili makataronganon ang pag-aresto nila ni Bishop Morales ug sa iyang mga kauban kay bisan nagpa-ila na siya nga usa ka obispo, sa gihapon gipasasan pa gihapon siya,” Bishop Calang said.

The four were caught by soldiers from the Army’s 102nd Infantry Brigade and officers from the provincial police while they were riding a maroon Starex van with license plates 151010 The vehicle is said to be IFI’s.

Seized by authorities were a grenade, mobile phones, battery packs, a map of Misamis Occidental, and P80,700 in cash, among others.

Police said Salinas is the secretary of a NPA command in Western Mindanao with five arrest warrants issued by a court in Surigao for destructive arson, murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder and robbery in band.

Espenido said the group was bound towards the Aluran area in Misamis Occidental.

Authorities, he said, set up a checkpoint after they received information about Salinas.

“Na-monitor namo nga misakay si Salinas sa sakyanan sa bishop sa Aglipay Church, mao nga gi-flag down namo,” Espenido said.

He said Bishop Morales was helping Salinas, an accusation Morales denied following his arrest.

Espenido said Morales initially told investigators that they merely took the chance of helping Salinas whom he allegedly did not know by allowing him to go with them.

“Very unusual. Morales claimed that they did not know each otherm and that he merely offered him a free ride. Ma-involve gyud sila kay dunay nakuha nga explosives gikan kanila sulod sa ilang sakyanan,” Espenido said.

But Espenido said Morales and Salinas have long been close associates.

“Taga-Surigao ko mao nga klaro kaayo nga supporter si Morales kang Salinas o kauban gyud sila tungod kay daghan didto sa amoa nga ang mga rebelde mga pari,” he said.

IFI leaders and members greeted Morales’s arrest with a “silent protest” at the Ozamiz police on Friday.

Fr. Dave Bitos of the IFI in Tudela, Misamis Occidental,  said, “Igo lang kami nagpasundayag sa among mga placards pero walay  kasaba nga among gihimo.”

They called for the release of Bishop Morales and his wife and driver, saying they were innocent.

“Wala man silay kaso ma-o nang among gipangayo sa kapolisan nga  dili na sila i-detain ug ielease sila,” Bitos said.

Morales’s wife and driver were subsequently released from detention.

He said Bishop Morales was bound to another parish for churchelated work when his group was arrested at a checkpoint.

Bitos said Salinas was just a hitchhiker who asked for a ride, and the bishop agreed.

“Si Bishop Morales ug kini si Rommel  Salinas,  dili sila ka-ila. Apan   kay nag-ulan man tong panahona.  Buhat sa kalo-oy iyang gipasakay si Salinas,” Bitos said.