Aliens involved in NPA operations?

ANGELES CITY — The Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) cited reports yesterday that foreign nationals were actively involved in New People’s Army (NPA) operations in Mt. Province and elsewhere in its area of jurisdiction.

For instance, Nolcom said an "unidentified female foreign national" has been moving around with a "platoon-sized rebel band" led by one Lupito Wigit, alias Tangkib or Tubbas, and one Ka Ronnie or Dandan in hinterland villages in Sagada, Mt. Province.

In a report, Nolcom said the foreigner and her rebel companions have been frequenting the villages, particularly near Mt. Bato, allegedly to demand shares from the local folk’s harvests of sweet potatoes and other crops.

Nolcom said the group was last sighted at about 1:20 p.m. last June 14.

Col. Cesar Yano, Nolcom spokesman, could not be reached for more details.

Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, himself cited reports that foreigners were associated with militant groups in Aurora.

"It seems that their (rebels’) revolutionary tax collection is getting (smaller) so they are finding other ways to supplement their funds (in Mt. Province). This is the same predicament encountered by other NPA units in the region due to mismanagement of party resources or simply malversation of funds committed by their abusive leaders," Nolcom said in its report.

It identified the NPA unit operating in Mt. Province as the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya codenamed "Marco" which covers Bontoc, Sadanga, Sagada, Barlig and the eastern part of Besao town.

Nolcom is now bracing for an all-out war against communist guerrillas as President Arroyo earlier had declared.

"It is about time that the government show its iron fist against the NPA terrorists. They have been challenging the authorities all along, testing their limits and patience," said Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino (not Dominguez as he was inadvertently identified yesterday).

In a related development, the Cagayan police foiled what could have been the second NPA attack on the police station of Lasam town.

Senior Superintendent James Melad, Cagayan police director, said 30 heavily armed insurgents were forced to drop their plan to swoop down on the Lasam police headquarters upon learning that police reinforcements had arrived there Thursday night.

Instead, the rebels, who were on board a government dump truck they had commandeered, proceeded to the house of Lasam Mayor Eulogio Agatep Jr. and ransacked his mini-armory of assorted firearms.

Melad said the guerrillas, who were clad in fatigue, took the mayor’s M-16 rifle, five 12-gauge shotguns, a sniper telescope and thousands of bullets for different calibers.

Meanwhile, Tolentino issued yesterday a statement where he "vehemently denounced" what he said was a spate of NPA terrorist activities recently.

He said these NPA operations have "claimed the lives of non-combatant soldiers and innocent civilians and at the same time, led to investment losses and stalling of much-needed community projects."

Last Sunday, Tolentino said an NPA band hijacked a container van loaded with 919 boxes of assorted polo shirts belonging to Limech Garments Manufacturing Corp. in Subic, Zambales.

On the same day, he said rebels shot a 59-year-old village chief in San Isidro, Lupao, Nueva Ecija whom they had suspected of being a military informant, in front of his granddaughter.

Tolentino also cited the ambush-killing of three Army non-combatants involved in social infrastructure projects in Balbalan, Kalinga.

The rebels took from the three the P45,000 intended for a water system and pathway project in Barangay Poswoy, Balbalan town as well as their cellphones, cash and other valuables.

Last week, a 72-year-old man, who was also suspected to be a military informant, was abducted by eight rebels in Sitio Palayan ng Bayan in Barangay Villa Rey, Piat, Cagayan. His headless body was found eight days later, Tolentino said.