Arrest of UP students in Nueva Ecija, a legitimate law enforcement operation – AFP

MANILA — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang on Monday stressed that the arrest of two University of the Philippines (UP) students in Nueva Ecija was a legitimate law enforcement operation.

He added that Gerald Salonga and Guiller Cadano were arrested when combined forces from the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police Crime Investigation and Detention Group searched for Ely Taray.

Although the original mission was to arrest Taray, who is wanted for murder charges, police and military operatives failed to nab the latter and instead discovered that the UP graduates having illegal firearms and explosives in their possession.

“It was a legitimate operation, the team had a search warrant and arrest warrant. They went to the house of Taray but they could not find him, they found the two though,” Catapang pointed out.

Joint military and police forces arrested the two in Barangay TL Padilla, Carranglan town, Nueva Ecija Saturday night.

Soldiers retrieved two 9mm pistols, two hand grenades, ammunition and subversive documents.

Catapang said allegations of militant groups claiming that the two UP students were falsely arrested have no basis and that the joint forces of the AFP and the PNP were rooted in humanitarian principles.

“As we celebrate the International Humanitarian Law we emphasize that we have to respect the rule of law, on violation of human rights and international humanitarian law,” Catapang said.