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Thursday, August 28, 2003
NPA claims defections from military
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Two soldiers and about 60 paramilitary troopers defected to the New People's Army (NPA) in San Luis, Agusan del Sur, a spokesman of the communist rebel group said Tuesday night.
The Army's Fourth Infantry Division chief, Major General Cristolito Balaoing, said two soldiers had deserted their units and gone to enemy camps, purportedly to sell firearms. There was no report of any desertions from militia units, however.
Corporal Edward Quirante and private first class Boboy Abduhasad along with some 60 members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) sought refuge in guerilla camps early this month, said Jorge Madlos, a spokesman for the communist guerilla group.
The paramilitary troopers reportedly belong to the Charlie Company of the 29th Infantry Battalion headed by Major Paul Aquino.
The men brought with them, among others, an M203 grenade launcher, two M16 rifles, two M14 and four Garand rifles.
"It was an exodus," Madlos described the defection.
They "ransacked their armory and deserted en masse. Many of them sought refuge and protection in NPA territory, bringing along their government-issued firearms," Madlos said. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Some however were later arrested by the military, he added.
An Army spokesman denied that two civilian companies, or about 60 men, joined the communists, saying that all militia units on the field were "intact."
Majority of the defectors, according to Madlos, and their families are now under NPA protection and support.
Madlos said the soldiers and the militiamen had complained of mistreatment from their officers, corruption and the delay of their allowances and supplies as among the reasons for the alleged defection.
Civilian sympathizers of the communists "facilitated their safe entry to NPA territory," Madlos said.
Col. Narciso Alamag, 4th Infantry Division spokesman, told Sun.Star Wednesday that all their paramilitary troops in the 29th IB under Aquino were accounted for.
He said it was only Quirante and Abduhasad who went over to the NPA.
Madlos said a paramilitary trooper complained that his wife was "abused" by their commanding officer but refused to elaborate saying the matter was "too sensitive."
Alamag said the alleged complaints would be included in the ongoing investigation conducted by the 402nd Infantry Brigade. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/(With AFP)
(August 28, 2003 issue)
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