Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Marañon happy to meet Ka Frank soon By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
NEW People's Army (NPA) leader for Negros island, Fr. Frank Fernandez alias Ka Frank or Ka Ibarra, has signified his willingness to see and talk with Governor Joseph Marañon soon.
Marañon revealed Tuesday that Ka Frank sent him a message thru text telling the governor that he is willing to talk to him.
"I welcome it because ever since I became governor of this province, it was really one of my desires to see and talk to Ka Frank. And, I am also willing to extend basic services to them if they needed anything from the province for the sake of countryside development," Marañon said.
He added that he is also willing to hear the rebels' grievances and complaints.
Marañon stressed though that his willingness to have a dialog with Ka Frank is only for the sake of peace in the island and nothing more.
"Because I believe that we can't have economic prosperity without peace. That's why I am very much willing to see Ka Frank anytime he wants," he said.
Weak
Colonel Gregorio Fajardo, commander of the Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, claimed that the NPA forces in Negros island is getting weaker.
This as Fajardo said that some of the rebels' recruitment operations were foiled due to the Army's intensified operations in several remote areas in the island.
As proof to his claim, Fajardo cited the encounter between the members of the Army's 11th Infantry Batallion and Larangang Guerilla 3, Komiting Rehonal Negros of the CPP-NPA in Barangay Quezon, San Carlos City in December last year killing five of the rebel combatants.
The army colonel added "the NPA is only doing some minor atrocities to let the public feel as if it is still strong and mighty when the truth is that it is already weak."
