NPA hijacks relief goods in Catanduanes

LEGAZPI CITY — An Army top official condemed the Communist Party of the Philippines especially its military arm, the New People’s Army operating in the island province of Catanduanes, for hijacking the relief goods Sunday afternoon intended for residents in the five municipalities affected by super typhoon "Reming."

Col. Roberto Morales, deputy commander of the 901st Brigade and operations officer of Task Force Mayon Alpha, said that NPA rebels flagged down 12 vehicles carrying relief goods at the outskirts of the capital town of Virac. The vehicles were enroute to the towns of Bato, San Miguel, Baras, Gigmoto on the east coast and Caramoran on the west coast to distribute the relief goods.

"These communist terrorists (NPA’s) are again taking advantage of the situation to advance their selfish objectives," said Morales in a telephone interview.

"These terroristic acts are designed to prevent government efforts to provide much-awaited help to our people who lost their personal belongings, homes as well as loved ones to super typhoon Reming."

Morales said that Task Force Mayon Alpha of the Southern Luzon Command-Armed Forces of the Philippines will not be diverted by their terroristic activities but will sustain the retrieval, rescue and relief operations.

Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of the Civil Relations Service(CRS) in Bicol, said that about 70 heavily-armed NPA guerillas belonging to the Teresa San Juan Command, at gunpoint ordered the drivers of the vehicles to unload the rice, canned goods, clothing and medicines on board the vehicles at about 4 p.m. Sunday.

Marquez said the relief goods came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the GMA Kapuso Foundation and from other donors.— Celso Amo