NPA-Panay interview posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Jun 20):
READ: Aksyon Radyo Iloilo’s Interview of Ka Julio Montana, spokesman of Coronacion Chiva Waling-waling Command, NPA about the raid on the Maasin PNP Station on June 18
Ka Julio Montana, Spokesperson
NPA-Panay (Coronacion Chiva “Waling-Waling” Command)
20 June 2017
AKSYON JOHN PAUL TIA: Why did you raid the Maasin PNP?
KA JULIO MONTANA: The PNP as an institution is part of the state machinery to implement the all-out war against the movement in the whole country. That’s the first. They take part in the implementation of tation of Oplan Kapayapaan against the revolutionary movement. Our attack is more of getting their farmhands from them. The NPA is the army of thhe poor, the firearms are taken with the people’s support, and our armory comes from their institution.
The people have long been complaining about this police station’s extortion and their support for the proliferation of drugs and gambling but they are afraid to speak out. That station is a legitimate target.
JPT: Have you identified the names of these policemen?
KJM: Just ask the people. For our part, we have no right to broadcast that. It is not only in Maasin but in many towns here in Panay that drugs proliferate and illegal gambling is tolerated. The protectors come from their ranks themselves.
JPT: There have been towns confirmed by the PNP in the past that are possible targets of your offensive actions, can we confirm if the following are really your targets – San Joaquin, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Igbaras, Leon, Alimodian, Maasin, Janiuay, Lambunao, Calinog, Passi City, San Enrique, San Rafael and Lemery?
KJM: The PNP as an institution is part of our legitimate military targets. This means that the whole PNP, is part of our military target. Wherever they are, as long as the situation warrants, we will strive to achieve our gains. Not only the PNP but also the AFP, CAFGU, paramilitary, even the leaders of illegal syndicates that deal on drugs, gambling and other crimes are part of NPA targets.
JPT: Before, did the movement have any actions against those who deal in drugs?
KJM: Since 2007 until now, even before Duterte, not only the Napoleon Tumagtang Command but under the Coronacion Chiva Waling-Waling, even the Nonito Aguirre Command, Jose Percival Estocada Command, all continue to campaign against drugs. In Tubungan, the NPA raided a notorious drug dealer’s marijuana plantation and dis-armed him.
JPT: Is the NPA force really this big at present? Was it really 50-60 strong that raided the Maasin PNP?
KJM: I will not divulge the actual number of our members who carried out the offensive. The increase of NPA strength can be attributed the the situation of the people, the system of extreme oppression, poverty and neglect of the regime, that created the NPA recruitment.
JPT: Mostly the youth?
KJM: The NPA is strictly implementing among its ranks to accept those who are 18 years old and above, the age that is most vigorous, that is the army that is daring in defending the people in whatever field of battle.
I wish to correct what [PRO6 DRDO SSupt Christopher] Tambungan said about us stepping on the head of a policeman. In truth, the police were neutralized, they were put on hand-cuffs, made to drop to the ground and their rights as captured enemies were respected. What Tambungan did when he choked the chief is worse than what he says as stepping on the head. We prohibit our forces from hurting any of our targets when they have been neutralized.
JPT: How many policemen were really in the station when you overran it?
KJM: Just ask the policemen who were there at the actual incident. They had many lapses. But what the policemen did was correct when they did not fight to prevent the situation from getting any worse. They knew the municipal hall was already under our control. We greatly respect the policemen who did not fight to minimize casualties. We ensure that in all tactical offensives, the security of the civilians and their property are ascertained, that they will not be harmed.
JPT: You took only the firearms?
KJM: We took only firearms, 11 armalites and 4 pistols and other military equipment such as handheld radios.
JPT: How about the tablets, cellphones and bracelet?
KJM: That’s not true. It is possible some things were taken inadvertently and put in the bags. But if we see in the inventory that personal things were taken, we assure the owners not to worry for these will be returned to you.
JPT: You did not hurt anyone? You fired your weapons?
KJM: A successful operation, that’s one without firing a shot. All our operating groups did was to handcuff them and make them lie on the ground to keep them out of harm’s way. Those stories, those were made up by Tambungan.
JPT: What you call the successful raid, how important is it to the NPA?
KJM: The confiscated weapons will go to our new recruits.
JPT: Is there someone supposedly being subjected to extortion by someone identifying himself as Frank Fernandez? *
KJM:* We really have a comrade named Frank Fernandez in the Negros Island Region. But I want to make it clear that the movement exacts revolutionary tax – from those who have businesses, in infrastructure. The taxes we collect from them go to strengthening our army. The sending of taxation letters, that is done formally and not only through cellphone. There are so many pretenders who use our name.
JPT: Is it possible that Frank Fernandez, is in Negros but he sends letters here to Panay for his revolutionary tax collection?
KJM: That does not happen.
JPT: The military has long been saying you are a spent organization. What show of force are you doing for the military?
KJM: It is the military that is saying that the NPA is a spent force but if you look back, the NPA has already carried out many operations against the AFP that has rendered them many casualties. In truth, they conceal their failure against the increasing strength of the revolutionary movement.
JPT: Is the ordinary policeman in danger now from the movement’s renewed offensives?
KJM: The PNP as a state machinery for all-out war against the movement together with the AFP is part of our legitimate targets for making them account for their crimes in their indiscriminate bombings of the poor, their extrajudicial killings.
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