Contraceptives seized from Reds in NSamar

THE MILITARY has reported that its unit has found anti-pregnancy pills from the camp of the New People’s Army in Barangay P. Rebadulla, Catubig, Northern Samar last April 23.

In a statement, Capt. Reynaldo Aragones Jr., 8th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, said this would show the grim reality that women were facing while they were under the control of the rebels.

Members of the division who were under the 20th Infantry Battalion found the contraceptives when they overran a camp of the rebels. Aside from the pills, also recovered from the area were high powered firearms.

Maj. Gen. Pio Q. Dinoso III, commander of 8th Infantry Division said, "The anti-pregnancy pills are proof of the situation of women under the unbearable control of the NPA terrorists.”

“Women fighters could have been compelled to take anti-pregnancy pills and they might have been forced to become sex objects of some NPA leaders," he said.

Another report said that three weeks ago in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, residents noticed that some of the rebels who took some relief goods belonging to

people in one barangay were pregnant women.

This prompted Mayor Randy Graza of Balangiga to appeal to the rebels to coordinate with government so these women could be given appropriate health care.

The incident in Barangay Barangay P. Rebadulla came about when residents complained about the presence of the rebels that resulted in the disruption in providing assistance to the villagers.