Documents link communists, legal fronts
We acted upon a concerned citizen’s tip about the presence of an armed group which were coercing the people to support and provide shelter to the insurgents whom we previously engaged with
The death of a female New People’s Army (NPA) rebel led to the discovery of documents that could cement the ties between the communist movement and its alleged legal fronts.
Combined forces from the military and police figured in a clash with insurgents in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro earlier this week that resulted in the death of the rebel whose identity is still being verified by authorities.
Recovered from the encounter in Barangay Gapasan were one 9mm pistol, three improvised explosive devices (IED), one rifle grenade, and subversive documents Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Bayan and Anakbayan.
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Arbolado, 4th Infantry Battalion commanding officer, disclosed that the materiel recovered by troopers showed proof that “supported the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or NTF ELCAC’s claims on the controversial issue against the Makabayan Bloc’s underground connection to the terrorist organizations.”
Security forces said the communist terrorists belonged to Platoon Serna of the NPA Sub Regional Military Area 4D’s MAV that terrorizes the hinterland communities of the province.
“We acted upon a concerned citizen’s tip about the presence of an armed group which were coercing the people to support and provide shelter to the insurgents whom we previously engaged with,” Arbolado said.
He added that there were no reported casualties from the government forces’ side.
Col. Augusto Villareal, commander of the 203rd Brigade that has operational jurisdiction over Mindoro, blasted the Makabayan bloc’s “unnacceptable act” of being in cahoots with the communist movement.
“We will ensure the dead NPA rebel’s remains will only be handed over to those legally authorized to claim their bodies so that they will be given the last respects that every human being deserves instead of being desecrated,” stated Villareal.
The official was referring to past instances where remains of slain insurgents were taken by those who claimed to be their family members only to be paraded and used as propaganda tool to advance the Reds’ “ideology”under the guise of being “martyrs of the revolution.”
All available military assets as well as checkpoints set up by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police are now on high alert in support of the ongoing pursuit operations against the fleeing NPA terrorists.
The Communist Party of the Philippines, the parent organization of the NPA, is considered by the US State Department, European Union, and other countries as a foreign terrorist organization along with the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group.