Army tightens security in Cebu, Bohol amid NPA threats

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has tightened security in Cebu and Bohol to prevent communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels from infiltrating the islands.

Maj. Gen. Jon Aying, 3rd ID commander, disclosed that the NPA and its allied groups plan to reestablish their presence in Cebu and Bohol that have been insurgency-free for more than a decade now.

Aying said that government forces are monitoring the guerrillas based in Panay and Negros that could infiltrate Cebu and Bohol.

He said the military received reports that the rebels are moving from one island to another in the Visayas.

The 3rd ID has jurisdiction over 10 provinces in Western and Central Visayas, as well as Negros Island Region.

“They (NPA) are struggling, but they are doing it. That is what we are trying to do also because we want Cebu and Bohol to be vigilant, to prevent the resurgence of the communist movement there,” Aying said.

There were reports that the NPA rebels responsible for the ambush-slay last month of six policemen and a civilian in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental have fled to Bohol to avoid military operations being conducted by the police and the Army’s 303^rd Infantry Brigade.

Aying said the NPA has an estimated 200 armed fighters in the Negros Island Region and have remained a major threat to peace and order in the Visayas, aside from threats from other terror groups.

Aying said the operations against the NPA is a continuing process since the rebels were able to consolidate their forces during the peace talks that President Duterte recently suspended following various attacks by communist forces on government troops.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. recently allocated a P21.2 million for the projects of Task Force Buglas that was organized to address the threat of terrorism in the province.

Ilocos Sur clash

A soldier was wounded last Friday during an encounter with NPA rebels in Barangay San Ramon, Sigay, Ilocos Sur.

The wounded soldier was not immediately identified. Ilocos Sur police director Senior Supt. Jovencio Badua Jr. said troopers of the 81st Army Battalion led by Lt. Ahmad Sahirani clashed with several rebels in the area.
Police and Army units were deployed to conduct pursuit operations.

Solicitor General Jose Calida yesterday said that Edre Olalia, legal consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), is dreaming if he still thinks there is still a chance to resume peace negotiations.

Olalia reportedly said that Calida’s request for various regional trial courts (RTCs) to issue recommitment orders for the re-arrest of 21 NDF leaders and members who were allowed to post bail last year so they could participate in the peace talks in Norway was still premature and “ties the hands” of President Duterte.

In his Twitter account, Calida posted yesterday afternoon, “Olalia is either dreaming or crying over spilled milk. He obviously failed to get the drift of President Duterte’s statements.”

“PRRD’s (President Duterte) declaration that the CPP/NPA/NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/NDF) is an ‘enemy of the State’ signifies that peace negotiations with them have been rendered inutile,” Calida added.

He also pointed out that it was the NPA that caused the peace negotiations to crumble. “It was the perfidy of the NPA which caused the collapse of the peace talks.” 

Calida had explained that when the Supreme Court (SC) granted bail to them in its resolution in August last year, which was adopted by the RTCs, the SC had set specific conditions.

Human rights advocates have sought the release of 74-year-old political prisoner Marcos Aggalao.

Aggalao was nabbed last Sept. 11 in his village in Barangay Gawaan, Balbalan, Kalinga on alleged trumped-up charges.

The elderly detainee is suffering from pneumonia, dementia and hypertension.  

Aggalao has a pending warrant of arrest for murder that was issued by Judge Marcelino Wakas of the RTC in Tabuk City.

Human rights group Karapatan sees no reason for Aggalao to remain in jail.   

Last month, Aggalao suffered a stroke, which paralyzed half of his body and after a brief hospital confinement, he was returned to Tabuk City jail.

“This callousness of this government is infuriating, opting to release and hand out favors to the guilty and the rich, while condemning political prisoners to rot in detention,” said Karapatan.

Last July 26, the Kalinga jail warden wrote Baguio City RTC Judge Emmanuel Rasing that they lack the capability to take care of Aggalao in his current condition.  –  With Evelyn Macairan, Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao