Military foils ‘extortion’ bid of Catanduanes Reds

From the Manila Standard Today (May 1): Military foils ‘extortion’ bid of Catanduanes Reds

A soldier was wounded on Tuesday in a gunbattle with communist New People’s Army guerrillas, who were preparing to set up a checkpoint on a highway in San Andres, Catanduanes, to wait for the arrival of a convoy of cars of a candidate for governor, an Army spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Bernardo Fortez, Commanding Officer of the 83rd Infantry Division, said troops were sent to the area following calls from residents about “sightings of rebels” in Barangay Hilaw-an in San Andres.

“Our troops encountered the rebels at the hillside. They were preparing to set up a checkpoint intended for the convoy of gubernatorial candidate Joseph Cua,” Fortez said.

About 10 NPA guerrillas escaped after a brief firefight with troops from the 91st Division Reconnaisance Company. Pfc Christopher Briguela was wounded below the knee and was rushed to the hospital.

Informants said the rebels were led by Jimboy Lucero, alias Ka Jason, who showed up in the area three weeks ago threatening residents and asking for logistical support, according to Fortez.

Lucero, who has been collecting campaign fees from candidates, has been terrorizing residents of Barangay San Vicente in San Andres in the past several months, |Fortez said.

A candidate for senator, Risa Hontiveros, said the Department of Justice should file charges against NPA guerrillas setting up checkpoints for the purpose of extorting fees from candidates.

In a letter of complaint she submitted to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Hontiveros said the attack on the convoy of Gingoog City Ruthie Guingona last week in which two of her aides were killed was a violation of election laws and the DOJ should hold the NPA accountable for human rights abuses.

“These acts are clear violations of our election laws, which prohibit the use of threats, intimidation, terrorism and other coercive tools to influence the conduct and result of elections,” she said.

“We have to demand accountability from the NPA for their human rights abuses, and correcting human rights abuses should be universally applied. Civilians who engage in electoral politics should be protected from all forms of threats and coercion, whether they’re from state or non-state actors such as the NPA,” Hontiveros said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/05/01/military-foils-extortion-bid-of-catanduanes-reds/