MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a writ of habeas corpus for the 43 "health workers" arrested by the military over the weekend in Morong town, Rizal province.

The SC ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to present the 43 suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels before Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Portia Aliño Hormachuelos at 2 p.m. Friday.

The high court reminded the AFP that all of the 43 suspects should be present during the appellate court's hearing.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice on Thursday morning filed illegal possession of firearms and explosives against the 43 suspects before the Morong, Rizal regional trial court.

State Prosecutor Romeo Senson, the inquest prosecutor of the case against the suspects, did not recommend bail.

In a 17-page writ of habeas petition, the relatives of the "health workers" and members of the Community Medicine Development (Commed) asked the high court to order the military to produce all 43 suspects and order their immediate release.

Among those named as respondents were AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado and PNP chief Director General Jesus Versoza.

The petitioners told the court that the suspects are being held incommunicado inside the military's Camp Capinpin in Rizal province. They said they have not seen the suspects since their arrest last Saturday.

Their relatives claim that the 43 were attending “Community First Responders Health Training” inside a farmhouse owned by Commed's chair of the board Dr. Melecia Velmonte, a renowned infectious disease specialist and a consultant of the Philippine General Hospital.

The military, however, said the suspects were arrested after the recovery of several bomb-making components and firearms during the implementation of a search warrant.

The military has also claimed that 2 of those arrested are confirmed NPA members and had been previously nabbed by the Philippine Army. With a report from radio dzMM