LUCENA CITY, Quezon – A regional trial court here has meted eight years of imprisonment on a female activist for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, the Southern Luzon Command-Armed Forces of the Philippines (SOLCOM-AFP) reported on Wednesday, March 15. RTC Branch 56 found Alexandria Pacalda guilty of violating R.A. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives. Consequently, the accused was meted with prison mayor of eight years for violating a provision of R.A. 10591, and reclusion perpetua in the other case. The two cases were filed in 2020. According to Solcom, Pacalda was cornered by members of patrolling troops who were acting on an information provided by residents about the presence of an armed group believed to be members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF). When cornered, Pacalda surrendered, providing enough time for her companions to flee on Sept. 14, 2019, in Barangay Magsaysay in Gen. Luna, Quezon. She initially expressed her willingness to cooperate with the government and avail of the Balik-Loob program for former rebels. She even signed her affidavit in the presence of a local Barangay executive and council members, Solcom added. However, she recanted her affidavit coincidentally after the visit of members of KARAPATAN Timog Katagalugan at the Headquarters of the 201st Infantry Brigade. She was immediately transferred to the Philippine National Police custody for proper filing of charges. During her arrest, a caliber .38 pistol and a hand grenade were found in her possession. Meanwhile, Pacalda’s supporters and other progressive groups through mass protests and social media postings were relentless in their call to free her, claiming that she was a human rights defender. She was a student of M.S. Enverga University Lucena City and a member of Gabriela Youth before she went missing, according to his father in an interview aired during her initial surrender, SOLCOM said. With the RTC handling the verdict, justice was served. However, Solcom felt saddened because another life of our youth was destroyed, victimized by the NPA with their deception and duplicitous modus operandi. Pacalda could have surrendered as she initially did and had a better life, Solcom said. “Let this be yet another warning for our youths and their parents that these terrorists pretending as human rights defenders are preying on our youths as sources of armed groups,” Solcom said. “For those who are still somewhere in our hinterlands, know that your parents, especially those whose parents are members of Hands Off Our Children, please surrender now and avail of our government’s goodwill under the Task Force Balik Loob. Now is the time for us to unite for our nation, as we try to get up from the pandemic and bear the economic difficulties brought by international wars affecting our country,’ Solcom added.