Negros NPA justifies ‘people’s war’

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 19, 2023): Negros NPA justifies ‘people’s war’ (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

The renewed call of Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for members of the New People’s Army to surrender will not address the root causes of insurgency problem in Negros, rebel spokesperson Ka Maoche Legislador claimed.

That was the reaction of Legislador to the statement of Gov. Lacson, who is pushing for the implementation of more ELCAC (Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict) activities, enticing their followers to surrender and abandon the armed struggle.

While those “hardcore” leaders of the NPA will not heed to our appeal to surrender, Lacson said the focus should be on their followers.

Through ELCAC, we have proven that those surrendered were given a new opportunity to start all over again, with some of them integrated into the PNP, CAFGU and Philippine Army, the governor said.

In a statement, Legislador mocked Gov. Lacson’s “so-called new opportunity” as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The recent terror activities of the rebel remnants in northern Negros have claimed the life of a policeman who was among those responded to investigate the summary execution of two civilians on August 9 in Sitio Icogan, Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Legislador further claimed that the “people’s war is for just and lasting peace,” underscoring the attacks of the AFP, PNP, National Task Force -ELCAC, and other force multipliers as “the number one recruiter of the NPA.”

“Only the armed revolution can bring about genuine and lasting peace to our society, not band-aid solutions nor obvious cash cow schemes by mercenary brigands in the reactionary state,” he also stressed in the statement.

On the other hand, Estrella Banagbanag, spokesperson Rachelle Mae Palang Command – New People’s Army Southeast Negros Guerilla Front, claimed that Rene Janayan, who recently surrendered to Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria recently, is a farmer and not a rebel.

Janayan, of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, also surrendered a .45 caliber pistol and a rifle grenade to authorities.*

https://visayandailystar.com/negros-npa-justifies-peoples-war/