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Friday, October 28, 2005
Rebel leader challenges military in video
By Jeffrey M. Tupas
Correspondent
PERHAPS something is amiss with the military operations against elusive Southern Mindanao communist leader Leonardo Pitao because at the height of the supposed manhunt, Pitao was somewhere in the hinterlands of Davao--engrossed in a "shooting".
The product, a video compact disc containing Pitao's views on the current national situation, has been distributed to Davao media recently. The video showed Pitao, clad in a blue sweatshirt with the revolutionary banner as backdrop and a rifle beside, trimmed down and appearing not at all ill, contrary to military reports that he was.
Dated October 2005, the video was produced by the Public Information Bureau of the Menardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Operational Command of the New People's Army.
Pitao, also known as Ka Parago, is the leader of the Pulang Bagani Command operating in the hinterlands of Davao City, Davao del Norte and Bukidnon province.
A part of the 15-minuter video contains what seemed to be Pitao's challenge to the military that is up hunting him down.
"I am not tired. I was never weary when the reactionary government was still strong and did not admit that it is under crisis. How much more when the current regime is already weak and disintegrating?" said Pitao.
The government put up a P1 million reward for his capture.
The military vowed to capture him until December after it failed to comply on its self-imposed deadline in August.
The video's highlight was Pitao's comment on the political crisis confronting the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government.
"The crisis of the ruling system and the ruling regime is favorable to the revolutionary movement. We already know that the government ruled by the capitalists will be shattered by the crisis," Pitao said, stressing that the NPA will throw its all-out support to all pressures meant to oust Arroyo.
He said the people's demand to oust Arroyo from Malacañang is valid. This, he said, is a clear indication that the people must unite against the people's common enemy which is Ms Arroyo.
"We express our support to the people who marched in the streets to call for Arroyo's ouster because their demand is valid. We know whose interests the government of Arroyo is promoting," he said.
"To hasten Arroyo's ouster, the revolutionary force will intensify the tactical offensives by the NPA," Pitao added, stressing that while the congress terminated the impeachment process against Arroyo, the movement to oust the president will never end.
It was learned another video still about Pitao is set for distribution again.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 28, 2005 issue)
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