The military has lambasted the New People's Army (NPA) operating at the foot of
First Lieutenant Nasrullah Sema, speaking for the 57th Infantry Battalion, said the latest atrocities the guerillas carried out was the confiscation of truckloads of rice from the towns of Makilala, Magpet and Arakan traders, all in North Cotabato.
Sema said the NPAs are taking advantage of the election fever and carried out bombings against government forces and civilians here.
On Tuesday night, communist guerillas belonging to Mt.Apo Sub-Regional Command, through its spokesperson Isabel Santiago, admitted they seized more than 100 sacks of rice that some politicians used in wooing voters in Magpet, Arakan, Makilala and nearby communities.
Sema said whether those rice were for "vote-buying" or business purposes it does not matter because the fact that the NPAs seized them and it was a clear case of robbery in band.
But Sema denied by saying the Army has been neutral from the start and never engaged in political activities as directed by higher headquarters.
"We remained non-partisan and we will continue our mandate," Sema said. "The NPAs are extortionists, robbers and insincere in efforts to peacefully resolve their struggle."
The military is preparing charges against the NPAs for the abduction of Police Officer 3 Maulana Ali of Arakan PNP.
The NPA earlier vowed to release the police captive if the military ceases its offensive against them.
"That's propaganda, there is only one Armed Forces in the
He added that communist guerillas are making a living from politicians who enter their communities to campaign, asking them to provide "permit to win."
The Army spokesperson has repeatedly appealed to politicians not to give in to the NPA demands "because it will become a cycle and in a way supporting the movement."
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=523680
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