NPA out to 'retake' province

CEBU, Philippines - The New People’s Army is now out to infiltrate Cebu, which has been declared free of the rebels by the Armed Forces of the Philippines two years ago.

This was revealed by Lt. Col. Nolasco Mempin, the commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 78th Infantry Batallion, following reports that the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines are recruiting students.

Mempin said they are now monitoring some high school students in the northern town of San Remegio who are reportedly recruited by the militant League of Filipino Students (LFS).

Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. was earlier quoted as saying that no less than CPP chairman Jose Ma. Sison said that the LFS is one of the sectoral front organizations of the Maoist CPP-NPA-NDF.

“With Joma Sison’s statement of acknowledgement, no one can ever dispute the facts on the real character of LFS vis-à-vis its role in the Maoist terrorist national democratic revolution,” Alcover said.

The LFS played a crucial role in dismantling military presence in the campuses and in the restoration of student publications and student councils, its website said.

The FREEMAN tried to contact the LFS mobile hotline for its comment to no avail.

The 78th IB is now coordinating with the local government unit of San Remegio in monitoring these students.

Mempin urged the parents to monitor the activities of their children and verify what organization they are joining in.

These legal fronts of CPP-NPA usually introduced projects and programs that would benefit their target group and as soon as they are convinced, endoctrination will follow, he said.

“Baka nag-join na sa grupo at dinala sa Negros island (These students may have already joined the group and were brought to Negros island),” Mempin said.

The rebels are still operating in some areas in Negros island and Mempin said Cebu is their rich source of logistics and financial support.

“Cebu is very rich in resources and ideal people like the students,” Mempin said.

Mempin urged the people to be vigilant and report to local authorities suspicious groups that are doing activities in the area.

He assured that the military is there to help the community in maintaining peace and order and even during calamities and disasters.

In March 2010, the AFP declared Cebu as insurgency-free province and turned over the lead role in maintaining the internal security to its local executives and police.

The AFP Civil Relations Service continues to coordinate with local leaders to encourage rebels to return to the fold of the law.

The 78th IB also sustains community development programs such as medical and dental missions to address the roots of insurgency.

  The military has said that an area can be declared insurgency-free if the communist movement is non-existent or is too insignificant to affect the lives of the residents.

In 2006, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia declared an all-out war against insurgency and introduced a comprehensive package of services for rebel returnees.

Since then, hundreds of rebel returnees were given livelihood assistance amounting to P35,000 each. —/LPM