'Morong 43 just want to get public attention'
By Alexis Romero
The Philippine Star – www.philstar.com
Friday, April 16, 2010
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Army is unfazed by the supposed fasting of the “Morong 43,” branding it as a mere attempt to gain public attention.
“The alleged fasting and other theatrics to dramatize the case are meant to gain the attention of the public who is already fed up with these antics and lies in pursuing their revolutionary struggle as NPA (New People’s Army) members,” Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement,
“The massive effort to agitate the courts and sway public opinion is an old NPA tactic driven by fear and paranoia since the cases filed against them have prospered in the courts,” he added.
Torres said the suspected rebels are given full meals and have more than enough stock of food.
He added that the rights of the suspects, who are detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, are being respected.
Torres noted that five of the suspects have admitted that they are NPA rebels and have availed themselves of the government’s amnesty program.
This means that they have returned to the fold of the law and are no longer supporting the communist movement, he said.
Supporters of the “Morong 43” said the suspects are now fasting to protest their delayed transfer to the police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Govt troops capture NPA camp in North Cotabato
By Al Jacinto
The Manila Times – www.manilatimes.net
Friday, 16 April 2010
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Philippine soldiers captured an encampment of communist rebels after a firefight Thursday in North Cotabato province in the troubled southern island of Mindanao, officials said.
Officials said the fighting forced the New People’s Army rebels to abandon the camp in the hinterland village of New Israel in Makilala town. “The fighting lasted for about 10 minutes and the rebels fled leaving behind assorted materials in the manufacture of improvised explosives,” said Army Lt. Col. Bernie Langub, commander of the 57th Infantry Battalion.
He said the camp has nine bunkers and foxholes and that troops recovered provisions and military uniforms.
“The presence of a battery switch, detonation cords, improvised explosives and 150 meters of electrical wires are proof that the NPA is a terrorist group behind the spate of attacks in Cotabato,” Langub said.
There were no reports of casualties in the fighting, but the province is a known lair of communist rebels blamed for the series of ambuscades and attacks on security forces in North Cotabato.
Rebel forces this month also killed a government soldier and wounded seven more in separate attacks in Montevista town in Compostela Valley province and in the town of Magpet in North Cotabato province.
Last month, rebels also attacked a military detachment in the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s M’lang town and killed a government militia and wounded two more before ransacking an army detachment and seized 35 assorted high-powered weapons.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a communist state in the country.
Former police chief accuses Davao mayor of funding NPAs
By Jomar Canlas
The Manila Times – www.manilatimes.net
Friday, 16 April 2010
A retired police colonel accused Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City of giving P140 million annually to the communist insurgents.
In a press conference in Quezon City, former Philippine National Police Intelligence chief Eduardo Matillano also accused Duterte of giving P375,000 a month to the New People’s Army (NPA).
Matillano said that a memorandum was issued by the rebel group’s Pambansang Komisyon sa Pinansya containing the funding agreement between the NPA and the mayor.
He told The Manila Times that he was able to intercept the memorandum revealing the secret deal. He said that Duterte began providing financial assistance to the insurgents in 2001 when he was reelected as mayor of the southern Philippine city.
Representative Jun Alcover Jr. said in a press conference that Duterte, who is on his third and last term as mayor, is using the communist movement to advance his political interest.
“He is using the NPA to further his political ambition in Davao,” said Alcover.
Matillano stressed that another memorandum was issued by the NPA’s Pambansang Koman sa Operasyon, dated March 8, 2010, ordering the formation of the 250-strong Integrated Tactical Force for the electoral race in Davao City.
These insurgents will be augmented by 50 “elite-forces” from the NPA’s National Operations Command with expertise in bombing and terrorism, said Matillano, a Puerto Princesa City mayoral candidate.
He also cited the same document supposedly seized from the communists, Matillano said the NPA guerrillas were ordered to launch ambuscades, harassments and bombing activities.
When asked if the authenticity of the recovered documents allegedly from the NPA rebels had been verified, Matillano said: “These have been verified by assets.” He did not disclose who these assets are, saying only that they are within the NPA ranks.
“We would like to show the connection of Duterte with the NPA,” Alcover said when asked by media members why they were disclosing this now, just days after reports came out about Duterte’s support for Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd.
“This is a national security matter, which is not entirely political,” Alcover said.
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