Magsasaka Party-list nominee Lejun dela Cruz, a former Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) commander, was given treatment at a hospital after he went missing following an alleged assassination attempt and abduction in Cainta, Rizal on Sunday, Feb. 2.
According to the Magsasaka Party-list, unidentified persons in civilian clothes riding two motorcycles and a grey-colored sedan opened fire on the vehicle carrying Dela Cruz at around 11 a.m. in Cainta, Rizal.
It was added that Dela Cruz managed to escape, but he was chased by the men on motorcycles and in the sedan, and he remained missing until Sunday afternoon.
According to reports, the sedan driver, claiming to be a police officer, shouted at Dela Cruz, forcing him to surrender. He was handcuffed and forced to the ground.
On Sunday evening, TikTok content creator and vice president of the National Federation of Labor, Eli San Fernando, confirmed that Dela Cruz is alive.
“Buhay si Lejun Dela Cruz! Si Lejun Dela Cruz ay malapit kong kaibigan at kasama na nakikipaglaban para sa karapatan ng mga manggagawa at maliliit na Pilipino. Sinubukan syang ipatumba kaninang umaga pero nakaligtas at ngayon ginagamot sa hospital. Ipoproseso siya ngayon sa Marikina Police Station,” San Fernando said.
Marikina City Police chief Col. Erwin Dayag, however, denied the abduction allegations, stressing that Dela Cruz was nabbed by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Las Piñas court for murder in 1992.
The official also clarified that the nominee was arrested in Pasig City, not in Cainta, Rizal.
Asked why the arresting officers were wearing civilian clothing, Dayag explained that they are members of the police intelligence unit.
“Upon learning that Lejun has a pending warrant vinalidate po natin ‘yan sa court ng Las Piñas. Nag-conduct kami ng operation kasi before that ma’am nakikita na si Lejun somewhere in Pasig. Nagtatago talaga ‘yan eh,” he said.
The police said Dela Cruz allegedly fired at the officers first as they were informing him of his standing murder warrant.
“Ngayon itong si Lejun, ang ginawa nya bumunot ng baril, so nung bumunot siya ng baril pinutukan nung isa nating personnel,” Dayag explained.
Dela Cruz tried to escape from the police, triggering a short chase. One of the police officers was allegedly hit by Dela Cruz, forcing the other officers to shoot at the suspect’s tire leading in his arrest.
Dayag also denied claims that Dela Cruz was beaten by the police, saying that all police personnel involved in his arrest were wearing body cameras.
The suspect will be turned over to the Las Piñas Police, the official said.
The partylist strongly condemned the brazen and deplorable act.
Dela Cruz is a former leader of the Alex Boncayao Brigade but has since returned to the folds of the law to organize farmers, workers, and communities, the party-list said. (Richielyn Canlas, Patrick Garcia)
