By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, yesterday warned various progressive groups that kidnapping charges may be filed against them if the minors they have in their custody are not returned to their parents.
This comes after at least one group had taken minors into their custody after they were initially returned to their parents following the recent raids on offices in Bacolod City’s Barangay Bata.
In his weekly press conference, Baleros pointed out, the groups are not considering the “agony of their parents” who are likely “longing for their children.”
He said such an act can be viewed as kidnapping.
“When one prevents a person from seeing their families,” the law enforcement official explained. “In this case, going against the will of a minor’s parents.”
The NOPPO director appealed for the involved minors to return to their parents. He also urged parents to file kidnapping complaints against the groups if they continue to refuse to return the minors.
“Just give one or two sentences in their affidavit and we’ll charge them,” Baleros added. “The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will be the lead agency to conduct the investigation.”
Meanwhile, after receiving reports claiming progressive groups have set up a fundraising drive to gather money to pay for the bail of detained activists, the police official urged the public not to donate.
“If you give even a centavo, you are also helping them continue their underground movement against the government,” he explained.
He added, of eight of the activists detained at NOPPO headquarters at Camp Alfredo Montelibano, four have already received commitment orders and were placed under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
They are expecting commitment orders for the remaining activists within the week.
Last month, authorities raided the offices of various progressive groups in Bacolod City after intelligence reports claimed the offices were allegedly stockpiling firearms and being used for recruitment and training for the New People’s Army.
The raid also resulted in the rescue of 15 minors.
Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate slammed both the army and police, calling the operations “harassment” and claimed the seized firearms and explosives were “planted.”/DGB, WDJ