NPA abducts government spy

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas said yesterday that enemy spy Elizabeth “Sabet” Gutierrez had been arrested and punished by the Arnulfo Ortiz provincial operations command of the New People’s Army in Western Samar. “The NDF-EV has been informed by the Arnulfo Ortiz Command that the maximum penalty was meted on enemy spy Gutierrez after her arrest in Barangay Cancaiyas, Basey on Oct. 24,” said Fr. Santiago Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson. “It was a counter-espionage operation and had nothing to do with the village elections, contrary to the military’s humbug. As an enemy spy, Gutierrez was no mere civilian but a combatant, a legitimate target for punitive action by the NPA.”

“Even before the counter-espionage operation against‑ Gutierrez, the people’s revolutionary government had already issued an arrest order against her as early as September 2006 on espionage charges. Gutierrez and her husband, Norberto “Huling” Gacuma, were formerly with the revolutionary movement. But they turned against the people and became accomplices as intelligence operatives for the military. Espionage is regarded as a war crime because of the use of ruse and perfidy. Enemy spies are subject to capital punishment upon being uncovered.

Furthermore, Gutierrez’s nefarious activities served the Arroyo regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya II campaign of intensified fascist state terrorism,”Salas said.

The rebel priest also said that the NPA thus acted in accordance with the laws of war in punishing Gutierrez. “Gutierrez and her husband were identified by the NPA as responsible for collaborating with the 62nd Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce in the abduction of activist couple Juliet Fernandez and Manuel Pajarito on May 11 in Pinabacdao. Fernandez and Pajarito were tortured in a military detachment in Barangay Botoc, Pinabacdao and in the 62nd IB headquarters in Barangay Polangi, Calbiga. They remain missing to this day according to reports.   – Miriam Desacada