Army chief directly links two party-list lawmakers to NPA

The Army commanding general has linked two party-list lawmakers to the New People’s Army (NPA).

Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Army chief, said video footage captured from communist rebels shows Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño giving instructions to unidentified men and women believed to be NPA fighters somewhere in the mountains of Catarman, Northern Samar last March.

On the other hand, a letter seized from the NPA mentioned that a certain Ka Satur was intending to send P5 million to communist rebels to pay for the purchase of explosives for a plot to destabilize the government, he added.

Esperon, along with Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, Army 7th Infantry Division commander, presented to reporters the video footage showing Casiño instructing several men and women in the mountains to hasten their tie-up with business groups, local governments, and the Church "to protect our ranks while fighting the military."

"We can’t just fight the military alone," Casiño was quoted as telling his audience in that gathering. "We also need their support to defend our ranks."

Several local officials in Northern Samar, among them a town mayor, were seen in the video footage attending the secret meeting with Casiño during the night.

Esperon also presented to reporters a letter from Joseph Vargas, Aurora Bayan Muna-Aurora chapter chairman, explaining to Delfin Pimentel, Communist Party of the Philippines Aurora provincial party committee chairman, why the P5 million from Ka Satur had been delayed.

The P5 million from Ka Satur was intended to finance the purchase of explosives for planned terrorist bombings to destabilize the government, Esperon said, quoting portions of the letter.

Asked if Ka Satur was Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Esperon said he would leave the matter for reporters to discern.

"Huwag na lang manggaling sa amin (It should not come from us)," he said. "Kayo na ang bahalang mag-decide dyan (You decide that yourself)."

Esperon said they were just presenting the captured rebel documents for the public to know the hidden political agenda of the CPP-NPA.

"We are just showing you that the chairman of Bayan in Aurora was writing the NPA top commander in that province, talking about explosives that were supposed to be purchased out of P5 million coming from Ka Satur," he said.

Asked if the Army would take legal action against Casiño and Ocampo, Esperon said they are leaving the matter for the other concerned government agencies to decide.

"If charges will be filed, (against Casiño and Ocampo) it would come from other government agencies," he said.

The Army brass is submitting all the captured rebel documents to the concerned government agencies for their own legal appreciation, he added.