NPAs declare Lenten ceasefire but attack Army base in Surigao

Communist New People’s Army rebels declared a Holy Week ceasefire yesterday, several hours after some 70 NPA guerrillas attacked an Army base in Surigao del Sur.

Reports said government troopers headed by Sgt. Daniel Cabarles of the 58th Infantry Battalion’s patrol base in Bayabas town held their position and effectively repulsed the attack Monday midnight.

The rebels led by a certain Ka Roy of Front Committee 19 of Northeastern Mindanao withdrew after a firefight that lasted less than half an hour, officials said.

Despite their declaration of a ceasefire, the rebels warned government troops they would fight back if attacked.

"Hinahamon din namin ang Armed Forces na magdeklara din ng suspension ng kanilang mga taktikal na opensiba, bilang paggalang sa paggunita ng mga Kristiyano sa Mahal na Araw (We dare the Armed Forces to declare its own suspension of tactical operations, to respect Christians’ observance of Holy Week)," Gregorio Rosal, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman, said over radio station dzMM.

Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, commander of the 4th Army Division, reported to the Armed Forces Southern Command that fighting began about 11:50 p.m. Monday.

"Fighting broke out for 20 minutes and repelled the attacking communist terrorists," he said in a statement.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but troops believe some rebels were wounded as bloodstains were found on their escape route.

The military also recovered live ammunition for a grenade launcher, as well for M-16 and several empty shells of undetermined, assorted firearms.

From exile in the Netherlands, communist rebel leader Jose Ma. Sison warned yesterday that efforts to ban leftist party-list groups from the May 10 elections could affect peace talks with the government.

"The third round of the formal talks may be prejudiced," he said in a long-distance telephone interview with ABS-CBN television.

Sison said military brutality could be encouraged by the allegations of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that leftist party-list groups are New People’s Army (NPA) fronts and should be barred from taking part in the elections.

"The nasty talk of Gonzales can encourage the military brutes of the regime to kill some more of the leftists," he said.

Sison denied allegations by Gonzales that Bayan Muna and other leftist party-list groups are fronts of the NPA. "I don’t give them orders," he said.

Sison said the holding of peace talks would not immediately halt the NPA’s guerrilla campaign in the countryside.

"There would be no peace talks if there is no armed struggle," he said.

All six parties accused by Gonzales are contesting sectoral seats in the House of Representatives in the coming elections.

Gonzales said he wants the parties banned not for being communist, but for supporting the NPA which has recently stepped up attacks on government targets and business in the countryside.

Director Roberto Delfin, Philippine National Police intelligence chief, said they are helping the military to gather evidence to show that party-list groups Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis and Migrante are giving part of their countrywide development funds to the NPA.

The anti-communist Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy said it will support moves to disqualify Bayan Muna and the other leftist party-list groups, charging that their members have been threatened by Bayan Muna members for opposing the communists.

Meanwhile, the bodies of two NPA leaders killed in a recent encounter with troops were found in sitio Abnate, Kiblawan town, Davao del Sur.

The bodies were identified as those of Bernie Oribiana Zantua alias Ka Dario and Sebastian Capalla Andea alias Ka Robert.

Human rights organizations reported their discovery to the AFP Southern Command last Saturday.

In Bulacan, policemen have been deployed in areas where pilgrims flock during the Holy Week.

These are Barangay Kapitangan in Paombong, where flagellants are crucified, reenacting the death of Jesus Christ; Our Lady of Lourdes grotto in San Jose del Monte City, and Sta. Rosa in Marilao town, where the shrine of the Divine Mercy is located.

Police and socio-civic organizations have also set up motorist assistance centers in strategic points in the province, which is the gateway to Northern Luzon from Manila.

The government and communist rebels have held two rounds of peace talks in Oslo, Norway in February and March.

The government is aiming for a peace agreement within six months to end the 35-year rebellion that has claimed thousands of lives.

The upcoming round of peace negotiations is scheduled for April 26-29 in a still undecided venue. — James Mananghaya, Christina Mendez, Roel Pareño, Ben Serrano, AFP