Friday, April 12, 2019

4 officials linked to NPA monitored

From the Visayan Daily Star (Apr 12, 2019): 4 officials linked to NPA monitored

A ranking military official yesterday revealed that they are closely monitoring four local government officials in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, who are allies of the New People’s Army.

Without mentioning names, Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said yesterday that those government officials are not just supporting the NPA, but are allies of the rebel group.

“We have to see to it that they do not use the NPA rebels as their private armed group,” Arevalo said, as he reminded them of their pledge to support the government as elected officials.

Arevalo, who had revealed earlier that more than 30 officials in Negros Occidental are allegedly supporting the CPP-NPA, maintained that he will not release their names in public, stressing that he does not have immunity like President Rodrigo Duterte.


He said Himamaylan City has the most number of government officials supporting the CPP-NPA in Negros Occidental.

“They know who they are, we know who you are”, Arevalo said, as he urged those government officials to stop supporting the NPA.

The DILG recently exposed a watchlist containing names of 346 government executives who are allegedly providing financial support to the NPA through extortion money.

Himamaylan, Toboso, Hinobaan, Isabela and Kabankalan have been placed under the “orange category”, or election areas of immediate concern, in line with the May 13 elections.

But Arevalo said that while Himamaylan City is an area of immediate concern, he will treat it like those in the red category, or an election area of grave concern.

Armed skirmishes between suspected NPA rebels and Philippine Army soldiers ensued on Tuesday in Sitio Asaran, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, that resulted in injuries to seven government troopers.

The 303rd Infantry Brigade also recorded several atrocities of the CPP-NPA, including assassination of former rebels, suspected military informants and civilians, in the hinterlands of Brgys. Buenavista and To-oy, and neighboring barangays, all in Himamaylan City, in the past months.

“That is why I want to put more focus, forces and resources on that area, without elevating its category to red. If we can have an analogy - the color is red-orange, Arevalo said.

Moises Padilla town has been also categorized by the Provincial Joint Security Coordinating Center as an election area of grave concern, due to violent activities by the CPP-NPA and intense political rivalries.

Arevalo also vowed to make the election in Himamaylan City “fair and clean”.




http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/April/12/topstory5.htm

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