Including UP-Cebu grad: 6 NPA? Rebels’ caught

CEBU, Philippines — Six alleged members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army, including a  minor  and an alumna of the University of the Philippines-Cebu, were arrested after an armed encounter with government troops in Mabini town, Negros Oriental yesterday dawn.

Authorities identified those arrested as Myles Albasin, 21, a native of Cagayan de Oro City and an alumna of the University of the Philippines-Cebu; Jomar Indico, 29, from Sitio Candais, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental; Joey Vailoces, 18, of Barangay Luyang, Mabinay, Negros Oriental; Randel Hermino,19; and a 17-year-old boy.

Colonel Medel Aguilar, spokesperson of the AFP Central Command based in Cebu City, said that before the encounter at around 2:30 a.m., the troops received a report regarding the presence of armed persons in Sitio Tumonon, Barangay Luyang.

Seeing their presence as a threat to the security of locals, Brigadier General Eliezer Losañes of the Army's 303rd Brigade, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, deployed troops to conduct security operations.

Aguilar said that the troops had an encounter with an estimated of 20 fully armed persons, who were allegedly members of NPA.

“Nagkaroon ng engkwentro between sa tropa natin at sa mga armed persons at nasukol ng tropa natin ang NPA. Anim ang na-aresto habang ang iba ay nakatakbo,” Aguilar said in a phone interview with The FREEMAN.

Aguilar said there were no casualties from the government troops during the encounter, but he could not immediately confirm if the same was the case for the side of the NPA.

“Hindi natin masabi na walang wounded sa kanila, nagtakbuhan na eh,” Aguilar said.

Recovered from the suspects were six high-powered firearms and explosives, including two M16, two M4, a VLTOR M16, an AG 43 M16, and an M203.

Aguilar said the report from the community itself showed that the people were tired of the “harassment” they experienced at the hand of the NPAs.

It can be recalled that a week ago, the CPP-NPA allegedly burned a tractor in La Castellana town and a sugarcane truck hauler in Canlaon City, still in Negros.

Meanwhile, the Central Command has assured that it will immediately conduct proper action in relation to the involvement of the youth in NPA activities.

“We have to decisively act on this issue because the future of our youth is at stake. We have to protect the youth from the CPP-NPA exploitation of their young minds and idealism,” said Lieutenant General Paul Talay Atal, CentCom commander.

Atal also commended the efforts of the troops for the successful operation against the NPA.

All the arrested suspects are now under the custody of the PNP, pending for filing of appropriate charges.

In a statement, Albasin’s group, the Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante, said it gravely laments her capture.

“Told from the perspective of the (AFP), we are made to believe that this is a successful military operation. We refuse to accept their publicity stunt,” the statement read.

“Myles has always been steadfast in the struggle the exploited and oppressed masses. Having been exposed to progressive theories and ideologies inside the campus and immersing with the masses outside the gates of the university, she has been well-acquainted with the problems of the larger society. It is only the nature of a true Iskolar ng Bayan to stand up and grapple for justice that has been deprived from the masses. During her years as a student leader, this service came in the form of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the students and the people,” it read further.  (FREEMAN)