Reports of its Demise Untrue, Says NPA

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Apr 1): Reports of its Demise Untrue, Says NPA

The Southwest Negros Island front of the New People’s Army (NPA), in its birthplace, Southwest Negros and which covered the CHICKS, (Cauayan, Hinobaan, Ilog, Kabankalan and Sipalay), related in an official statement its experiences on the eve of its 4th anniversary commemoration last March 29, this year, saying it is, like the rest of the country, advancing steadily towards its goal of achieving the stalemate stage of its armed struggle nationwide.

From its number which was small previously, it has become bigger, Andrea Guerrero, southwest Negros spokesperson declared.

When then now retired army Gen. Raymundo Jarque Sr. launched the military operation Oplan Thunderbolt under its Low Intensity Conflict, strategy, the NPA adopted the battlecry, "Fight Bisul, Kontra Humay" which referred to the much-better feed military troops. This was also because, facing extreme difficulties then, the guerilla army, was on survival mode.

Like the NPA as a whole, it also suffered what appeared to be unresolvable setbacks but a ratification movement corrected serious mistakes committed by the revolutionary movement, Guerrero said.

Relating their establishment in Southwest Negros, the guerilla spokesperson said landgrabbing of farmlands especially that which was cleared by Silvestre Gatillas, a farmer-settler in the 60s and 70s was rampant.

Thus, the farmers and especially poverty-stricken farmers in the area sought the support of the NPAs then.

Among the most despotic were a landowner and a bureaucrat whom the hinterland residents considered cruel in his actions. In such as case, they are always administered revolutionary justice, said Guerrero.

The rebel spokesperson further said many are aware of what happened recently when the NPAs acted to rectify the injustice done by a group of farmers in Camansi Subvillage, Kabankalan City. Military intelligence agent and militiamen were also punished, it was revealed.

On the arrest of the refuted national CPP-NPA leader, Benito and Wima Tiamzon, the revolutionary movement will not end with their capture. It is a movement sustained and supported by the masses, she said.

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