Official echoes statement that NPA threat is stale

CEBU, Philippines - The Deputy Commander of the 302nd military brigade in Negros Oriental echoed the statement of military officials in Cebu that there is nothing new to the declaration of the New People’s Army (NPA) to “retake” the province.

Col. Christopher Estella said the plan to “retake” Cebu has been the NPA’s objective in recent years, a move that has reportedly been spurred by the intensified offensive operations against the rebel group in Negros Oriental, prompting the group to seek refuge elsewhere.

Estella disclosed the information during the National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC) meeting in Cebu yesterday.

Estella said rebel operations in Negros have decreased as a whole in recent years.

“Na-diminish na natin ang capability level ng mga rebels to conduct tactical operations,” he said, adding, that intensified operations have decreased NPA membership drastically, from around 70 to 30.

“Nagpapakita na lang sila sa isang lugar at nagpaputok to attract our troops just to project their image or strength,” he   added.

Earlier, Lt. Col. Nolasco Mempin, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion, claimed that they have received reports that the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines are recruiting students.

High school students are the ones reportedly being recruited by the militant League of Filipino Students (LFS) particularly in the northern towns of Cebu.

The AFP claim that the LFS serves as the disseminating military presence in the campuses through the restoration of student publications and student councils.

This came after the AFP recovered a laptop from Danilo Escropolo Badayos, secretary of the Kilusang Rehiyon Sentral Bisayas-South East Front in Negros.

The laptop reportedly contained documents detailing the communist group’s plan to reclaim Cebu and Bohol. 

For his part, Brig. Gen. Roberto Armando, who co-chares the national JPSCC, told reporters yesterday that they have not received reports of the communist group’s plan to “reclaim” Cebu.

“Gusto nila’ng bumalik dito, pero di naman gusto ng LGU so mahihirapan sila and I believe that your LGUs will not allow that…baka mawala ang ‘it’s fun here in Cebu’,” Armando said. Armando is a native of Danao City.

He said everyone wants peace in Cebu and the military will not allow insurgents to hamper developments here. –(FREEMAN)