Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Seized documents to unravel NPA financiers in Surigao Sur: Army

From the Philippine News Agency (May 26, 2020): Seized documents to unravel NPA financiers in Surigao Sur: Army (By Alexander Lopez)



NPA MATERIALS. Government troops under the Army's 36th Infantry Battalion seize hundreds of materials and important documents in a hideout of the New People’s Army in Sitio Poog, Barangay Maitom, Tandag City on Monday (May 25, 2020). The recovered documents may lead authorities to identify persons or groups that provide financial aid to the communist rebels. (Photo courtesy of 36IB)

Documents recently seized by the Philippine Army from communist guerillas in Surigao del Sur may lead authorities in identifying individuals or groups that continue to provide financial means of support to the New People’s Army (NPA) in the province.

Hundreds of propaganda materials and documents that the military said contained high tactical value were seized
in an area believed to be a hideout of the NPA in Sitio Poog, Barangay Maitom, Tandag City on Monday, May 25.


Capt. Jonald Romorosa, the civil-military operations officer of the Army's 36th Infantry Battalion, said Tuesday that government troops also recovered personal belongings and war materials.

Romorosa said former rebels helped the government troopers discover the hideout.

In a statement Tuesday, Lt. Col. Jezreel Diagmel, 36IB commander, said the seized documents may lead to the disclosure of NPA supporters and financiers who are aiding the communist rebellion.

Diagmel said the documents will be processed in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) for proper filing of charges against any individuals or groups found to be supporting the NPA's armed rebellion.

“Those who support and give financial aid to the CNTs (Communist NPA Terrorists) are criminally liable,” Diagmel pointed out, specifically cited the provisions of the Republic Act 10168, otherwise known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012," as well as other applicated laws.

Diagmel lauded residents and former rebels for the information that led to the discovery of the hideout.

“This success is an indication that the CNTs are already losing their mass support. With the collaborative efforts of former CNT trusted supporters and former rebels will definitely end this long-decade armed struggle in the province,” Diagmel said.

Romorosa said the materials and personal belongings belong to the members of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 1 (SYP 1) of the "weakened" Guerilla Front-30 of the NPA's North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

"The group is headed by a certain Joel Mahinay or alias “Nicko”, he added.

The seized materials include 52 NPA printed sweatshirts, two 50-meter improvised explosive device (IED) wires, four NPA flags, 17 printed tarpaulins of NPA front organizations, 41 NPA checkpoint signage, one base radio, a binocular, a PNP Pershing cap, a handcuff, live ammunition, laptop accessories, medical supplies, revolutionary documents and other vital documents with high intelligence value.

The NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1103925

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