60th IB exacts revenge

THE barbaric killing of motorcycle driver Wilfredo Estrebillo, in Sitio Pandulian, Barangay Mabantao, Kapalong, Davao del Norte last June 4 showed that the notorious 60th Infantry Battalion is engaged in vindictive operations against civilians. The New People’s Army Comval-North Davao-South Agusan Sub-Regional Command condemns this fascist act and vows revolutionary justice for Estrebillo’s family.

Estrebillo was first to be killed among the list of six drivers in Kapalong that are on the military’s Order of Battle, a list that came out following the capture and subsequent release of Prisoner of War Corporal Rogelio Rosales last month in Brgy. Florida, Kapalong. Estrebillo is the latest casualty in the US-Aquino regimes counter-revolutionary and anti-people Oplan Bayanihan.

Early this year, Estrebillo had expressed that the military had placed him and his fellow drivers under surveillance because the latter accused them of transporting goods and food supplies to the NPA. Estrebillo said they were blocked and harassed by the military several times in its checkpoints. Despite the threats, he and the drivers prevailed over their fears and went on with their daily routine. Other drivers that are being threatened by the military are Eleazar Batobato, Loloy Labaho, Undo Labaho, Dodong Labaho, and Ptr. Joy Eway. On June 6 at 6:30 evening, two men carrying .45 caliber pistol tried to barge in at the house of Eway.

While the NPA released Cpl. Rosales on humanitarian grounds and placed on archive his case of destructive logging and illegal drugs, the military, on the other hand, vented its ire against civilians like Estrebillo. Worse, they also planted drugs at the scene of the crime to wrongly insinuate that Estrebillo was a drug user.

Shamed that its member was into logging and drug use, the 60th IB exacted revenge by turning its guns to hapless civilians like Estrebillo. When the NPA captured Cpl. Rosales last May 3, Estrebillo who was a resident of Brgy. Florida, witnessed the arrest of the prisoner of war. Cpl. Rosales, now dismissed from AFP service, erroneously blamed Estrebillo for having participated in the NPA’s arrest. He and three companions were spotted at Estrebillo’s wake.

The revolutionary movement extends its heartfelt condolences to Estrebillo’s family and friends, in recognition of his contribution to the masses and its revolutionary cause.

Estrebillo or Pendong to his friends, was a long-time habal-habal driver in Kapalong, Davao del Norte and had dedicated his life in serving the community. He was one of the community’s honest and reliable drivers offering services for all kinds of passengers teachers, students, pastors and church people, government officials, traders, and farmers.

The NPA and the revolutionary movement are one with Pendong’s family in the pursuit of revolutionary justice and in the advancement of what Pendong had supported-- genuine land reform through the people’s democratic revolution. (Sgd.) Ka Aris Francisco Spokesperson NPA- Comval-North Davao South Agusan Sub-regional Command