The fate of apprehended NPAs in Eastern Visayas

Letter to the editor posted to The Freeman (Jun 9, 2023): The fate of apprehended NPAs in Eastern Visayas

My warmest greetings to the editor and staff of this paper for the indulgence in publishing this article to share to the public my sentiments especially if these concerns on internal security that affects the national interest.

The recent arrest of the two wanted top communist NPA leaders in Eastern Visayas namely Rosalita Sulayao Taboy alias Laling/Ibay/Azun/Zuserre and her party partner, Antonio Legaspi alias Beto/Adonis last May 26, 2023 in their residence in Phase 3A, Sapanglamig St., Towerville, Brgy Gaya-gaya, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan is a big blow to the CPP-NPA-NDF movement in the Visayas.

Taboy is reportedly holding the position as National Finance Commission of the CPP-NPA-NDF leadership with ?5.25 million bounty on her head but formerly the Secretary of the Regional Organizational Department (ROD) of the guerilla front, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) while Legaspi is a demolition expert of the National Operations Command of the terrorist group, New People’s Army then formerly operating in Eastern Visayas.

This is a wakeup call not only to those NPA rebels who are still hiding in the countryside but also to the general public because after these couple victimized, recruited innocent people in the Visayas to take up arms against the government, the former left them and did not live by their idealism and principles as revolutionaries with the so called “serve the masses” but they lived back to their democratic living luxuriously in a subdivision in Bulacan Province.

The couple’s arrest was also an additional reminder to everyone to face the consequences of their actions once they take up arms against the government, you will either get arrested or killed or better surrender in long run of your struggle. Every action has a corresponding reaction and the people who espouse violence will be dealt with by the law.

Many lives were lost and wasted when these couple conducted terroristic activities in the Visayas. Majority of the masses were glad that the long arm of the law had reached these people. The victims of these communist terrorist atrocities and attacks could have lived their life to the fullest and the properties that were damaged could have been utilized for the development of the community.

Their being senior in ages do not exempt Taboy and Legaspi from their criminal liabilities for the law excuses no one. Let us take into account that these people have committed crimes against humanity. These people were responsible for terrorizing the communities in Eastern Visayas and deceived our countrymen to take up arms and live by their idealism when they are living ironically as bourgeois.

Gone are the common propaganda mileage of the communist terrorist that these persons arrested are consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF) with the served warrants. Their apprehension added to the dwindling top leadership of the CPP-NPA-NDF and this debacle demoralized the remaining cadre and members of the EVRPC.

Taboy’s arrest was based on warrants for the alleged commission of the crimes such as three counts of murder issued by the Municipal Trial Courts in Basey and Paranas, Samar; frustrated murder issued by RTC Branch 21 Lao-ang, Samar; and arson for burning the Smart Communications tower in San Jose Catbalogan, Samar for failure to pay extortion demands.

Aside from those, Taboy’s committed crimes also include the liquidation of CAA Danilo Naguit on September 27, 2008; killing of eight PNP personnel in Barangay Imelda, Catarman, Northern Samar on August 21, 2018; ambush of military vehicle that killed nine-year-old Joven Cabe; harassment of patrol base, 19IB in Campagal, Jaro, Leyte; and the destruction of a mini dump truck in Barangay Sangi, Palapag, Northern Samar owned by Palapag Mayor Manuel Aoyang.

Maj Joe Patrick A Martinez

Group Commander, 3CRG

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2023/06/09/2272603/fate-apprehended-npas-eastern-visayas