Reds’ presence in Angeles down by 90% — Palparan

ANGELES CITY — Since government troops moved into this Pampanga city two months ago, the presence and influence of the New People’s Army (NPA) has been reduced by as much as 90 percent, controversial Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan said.

Palparan, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, said his men will next swoop down on neighboring Mabalacat, the third highly urbanized area in Pampanga, to rid it of NPA presence and influence.

He said their campaign against the communist insurgency has been successful in the capital city of San Fernando, too.

"Angeles, San Fernando, and Mabalacat are the major financial sources of the rebels," Lt. Col. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 69th Infantry Battalion which is under Palparan’s command, told The STAR.

Palparan, dubbed as a "berdugo (butcher)" by militant groups which have blamed him for the killings and abductions of known activists, led some 200 former NPA rebels and sympathizers in a rally in front of the Angeles City Hall yesterday.

Despite the drizzle, the rallyists, who carried streamers and placards denouncing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA, gathered at the Nepo commercial complex downtown before they proceeded to City Hall.

Wearing civilian clothes, Palparan called on barangay officials and the locals to continue supporting the military’s efforts to weed out not only the NPA, but also its front organizations.

"The NPAs will promise you land and support for your family which they would not deliver once you go up the mountains," he said.

Visaya said the rallyists were former NPA guerrillas, among them nine Aetas from Barangay Sapang Bato, who joined the underground movement after they were promised lands, cash and material support for their families.

"They abandoned the rebel movement two to three months later after the promises were not fulfilled," he said.

Visaya cited the case of an old man who suffered a stroke while he was an NPA regular. "There was a plot by his comrades to kill him since the stroke rendered him useless and then blame his killing on the military. He got hold of this information so he surrendered to us," he said.

Visaya said their men have curbed NPA presence and influence in most parts of this city, particularly in 12 barangays where the rebels used to be active.

These barangays included Pampang, Pulung Bulu, Pulong Cacutud, Sapa Libutad, Sto. Cristo, Kuayan, Anunas, Lourdes Northwest, Capaya, Margot, and Sapang Bato.

"The rebels used to extort cash from both households and businesses in these areas. They demanded P100 to P500 per household, and P10,000 to P20,000 per business establishment twice a year," Visaya said.

"Even if only 30 percent of the households were targeted, that could be a huge sum considering how big Angeles City is," he said.

Despite their success, Palparan said the military would continue operating here until the leaders of the CPP-NPA’s supposed legal front organizations have fled.

He mentioned Roman Polintan, chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Central Luzon, and Joseph Canlas, regional chairman of the farmers’ group Aguman de reng Maglalautang Capampangan.

"The presence of these people and the rallies they hold in the city continue to intimidate since (everyone) knows that their organizations have armed backing," Palparan said.

Efren de la Cruz, president of the Angeles Association of Barangay Captains, said the "people are fed up" with the "revolutionary taxes" imposed by the NPA.

De la Cruz said the city’s other barangay leaders now want Palparan’s men to also put up detachments in their respective areas.

Visaya said the presence of soldiers has not only deterred the NPA rebels, but also drug dealers and other criminals.