NPA movements in North Cotabato monitored

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 9): NPA movements in North Cotabato monitored

The provincial police office here has confirmed that the communist New Peoples’ Army (NPA) is expanding its presence in the province’s PPALMA area.

The PPALMA stands for the towns of Pikit, Pigcawayan, Alamada, Midsayap and Aleosan, an agri-development cluster in the province.

Sr. Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, provincial police director of North Cotabato, disclosed that the NPA has penetrated some villages of PPALMA in their recruitment activity.

The rebels are conducting small group discussions or “pulong-pulong” to indoctrinate young minds of their ideology, an initial step before joining the communist organization.

Peralta said they have received intelligence reports that the rebels continue with their recruitment activities even during peace talks.

Both police and military are currently tasked to partner with local officials to conduct symposiums in villages to expose the anti-development acts of NPA rebels.

On Feb. 7, alleged NPA members shot to death a certain Edwin Ijara, a para-military member in Barangay Balete here.

Ijara was riding a motorbike when waylaid by armed men in a secluded portion of the road in the village.

“It was the NPA who assassinated Ijara,” Peralta asserted.

Meantime, military and police forces are intensifying their anti-insurgency operations across the province.

Recent NPA sightings have also been reported in the towns of Arakan, President Roxas, Makilala, Magpet, Tulunan, M’lang and Kidapawan City, all in the province’s second district.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=962444