"THE 'KA Lorena' publicity gimmick is another one of Macapagal-Arroyo's
spinners' cheap creation."
This was the reaction of Communist Party of the Philippines spokesperson
Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal to the news that Macapagal-Arroyo
will be the ninang (godmother) of Rosalinda Cocoy, described by Malacanang
as an NPA surrenderee who went by the nom de guerre of "Ka Lorena".
Macapagal-Arroyo the other day visited Cocoy and her godchild to
be, Sheena Rose, at the V. Luna military hospital. The president first
met Cocoy last November when Col. Efren Orbon, commander of the 202nd
Brigade of the Philippine Army presented her before the media as the
highest ranking among 150 surrenderees. The Narciso Antaso Aramil
Command (NAAC) of the Rizal NPA said then that "most of the 150
'surrenderees' were ordinary folk who were either paid or coerced
to participate in the 'grand event'."
Rosal said "most of the 150 hauled by the AFP to pose as NPA
surrenderees for the event were promised a share of the money the
AFP officers would get from the rebel returnee fund for the supposed
mass surrender."
He also denied the claim of the AFP that Cocoy was the "secretary
or political officer" of the CPP and NPA in Rizal province. Rosal
said that Cocoy had only undergonee the first two months of the initial
process of recruitment into the NPA and had to take an emergency leave
to seek treatment for a heart ailment.
"She never reported back, however, soon married and lived in
their barrio," the rebels spokesman added.
On August 22, Lorena was arrested by the military, together with
a hundred or so others in their barrio when a firefight took place
in their barrio between the NPA and AFP. She was forcibly made to
point out her own barriomates as members of the NPA and its support
base. She was held in a camp in San Isidro, Antipolo City and has
been turned into a sex slave of several military officials. She recorded
as an NPA surrenderee and has since remained in military custody and
is eating from the hands of 202nd Brigade officers who have become
her slave masters."
Rosal also said "Making a media ops out of her volunteering
to be godmothering Cocoy's child is Macapagal-Arroyo's own business.
But the fakery of all this cheap yarn needs to be exposed."
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