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Sunday, March 18, 2007
Communist rebels own up La Libertad ambush
By Edmund B. Sestoso
DUMAGUETE CITY -- The underground New People's Army (NPA) broke its silence and owned up the recent La Libertad ambush, which killed seven people including a village chief.
Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of the NPA's Leonardo Panaligan Command - Larangan Gerilya 1, issued this statement:
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"Isa ka madinalag-on nga ambus ang ginlunsad sang Bag-ong Hukbo ng Bayan batuk sa grupo ni Lydio Baylon (A successful ambush was carried out by the Bag-ong Hukbo ng Bayan against the group of Lydio Baylon)," the statement said.
The statement was issued during an interview with selected members of the media in both Oriental and Occidental Negros.
The NPA's statement has confirmed the earlier theory of Colonel Marcos Norman Flores of the Philippine Army's 61st Infantry Battalion.
Flores theorized that the ambush was meant against the village chief, who died during the ambush.
Flores said based on the initial investigation, the suspects were believed to be members of the Komiteng Rehiyunal Negros-Larangang Gerilya of the NPA.
Seven people were killed including barangay chief Eladio "Lydio" Baylon in an ambush on March 9, 2007 at around 5:15 p.m. at Sitio Manluminsag in Barangay Mandapaton in La Libertad.
The six others died at the Guihulngan District Hospital while the other five people were treated for their different wounds.
Regalado in a separate statement pointed out that during the ambush, they recovered an M-16 with a scope, a shotgun, a caliber 45, and one night vision with also several ammunitions.
He further said of the seven who were killed, they were able to get some identification cards showing some of them were from Iloilo City while the rest are from the different parts of Mindanao. They were also found to be former members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units (Cafgu).
Regalado said Baylon aside from being a target for the NPA's tactical offensive, was also meted the death sentence or penalty by the rebel group's People Court due to several offenses dating back from the 1980's up to the present.
The rebel group enumerated the late Baylon's offenses, which includes killing of innocent civilians when he was still then an active member of the Cafgu.
Baylon was also accused of torturing suspected members of the NPA, house burning, and stealing domesticated animals. He was allegedly active in the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) and other offenses of what they called as "anti-revolutionary acts."
Regalado said Baylon as barangay chief, has committed abuse of authority and the villagers are forced to follow what he dictates them to do.
Meanwhile, the police have declared the town of La Libertad as under the area of concern of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental following the ambush in Barangay Manlumisag.
Police Provincial Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe recanted earlier statement that there is no election hotspot in the province.
But the ambush in La Libertad town can now be considered as indicators in placing the town as election hotspot, Buenafe said.
Aside from the ambush incident, the town also has the presence of intense political rivalry.
In this connection, Buenafe clarified they have closely coordinated with the 303rd Brigade of the Philippine Army to prevent a repeat of the incident.
He further said they cannot control the minds of the people especially with the forthcoming elections.
Buenafe also assured the augmentation of the police officers in the town of La Libertad. (Sun.Star Dumaguete)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (March 18, 2007 issue)
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