Communists recruiting amid ceasefire – Army official

MANILA, Philippines - Recruitment by the New People’s Army (NPA) in southern Negros continues amid the ceasefire being observed by the government and communist rebels, a Philippine Army official said yesterday.

Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed they were able to monitor movements of a small group of rebels visiting some Negros hinterland barangays, which did not have any of the Army Bayanihan Team members conducting meetings with the populace.

Bayanihan, or the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP), is the military’s counter-insurgency program.

Delfin said they believe that the NPA was recruiting new members.

But Delfin said he was optimistic that the people would no longer be “fooled” as they were now aware of the true intentions of the rebel group.

Despite the developments, Delfin said the ceasefire in Negros Island Region appeared to be holding as there were no violations monitored on both sides.

The ceasefire agreement calls for the cessation of hostilities between government troops and communist rebels as peace negotiations resumed.

Delfin said he was hoping that the peaceful atmosphere in the hinterlands would continue.

Luis Jalandoni, former chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front, disclosed in a recent peace forum in Davao City that the NPA should not be made to lay down their arms, because they should be able to continue to protect the communities.

With the ongoing ceasefire, Delfin said they were maximizing their Bayanihan Team activities in the Negros hinterlands amid criticisms from the NDF-Negros.

“If they (NPA) want to help, it will be most welcome,” Delfin said, adding “this will further strengthen our effort to help those in the hinterlands.”

The Communist Party of the Philippines issued a statement criticizing the military for allegedly “maintaining their presence and continuing to make aggressive moves in and around the areas of operations of the NPA, including Negros Occidental, which it claimed forms part of the territories of the people’s democratic government.”

“There have been persistent reports of continuing presence of armed operating troops of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) in barangay centers, occupying barangay halls, community schools and daycare centers, senior citizen centers and other civilian structures. They continue to set up detachments or physical bases in the center of civilian population,” the CPP said.

Delfin clarified only combat operations were being prohibited. The Bayanihan squads and teams will continue their presence in barangays to help the populace, he stressed.

Chief Supt. Renato Gumban, Negros Island Region police director, said while they were not operating against identified areas of the CPP-NPA, they would not spare anybody in their law enforcement campaign, including the serving of arrest warrants to NPA members facing charges in court.