Military tags South Cotabato official as NPA supporter

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The military has tagged a board member from South Cotabato as a supporter of the Communist New People’s Army (NPA), citing testimonies given by former NPA members who earlier surrendered to authorities.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, 33rd Infantry Battalion commander, accused South Cotabato Board Member Romulo Solivio as an NPA supporter, saying that he used his position to mobilize indigenous peoples (IP) to support the NPAs in the hinterland villages of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Cabunoc said Solivio and his staff have also been using vehicles and government resources in organizing and mobilizing the Kilusang Revolutionary Barangay composed of IP organizations which serve as a front of the NPA in establishing a shadow government.

Cabunoc said that, based on the information provided by former rebels, Solivio was behind the organization of KALUAHAMIN, a federation of tribal organizations in Mindanao. Cabunoc claimed that the organization serves as legal front of the NPA in recruiting members of local tribal groups to join the communist underground movement.

The military official said Samuel Dalimbang, chairperson of KALUAHAMIN was reportedly working under the office of Solivio.

Dalimbang had lambasted soldiers belonging to 33rd IB and 27th IB who were tagged responsible for the massacre of Datu Victor Danian, a Manobo-Dulangan tribal leader, and seven other relatives last December 3, 2017 in Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu.