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Thursday, March 20, 2008
Communist rebels kill village chief
By Carlo P. Mallo
DAVAO CITY -- Police officials in Southern Mindanao were one in condemning the killing of the Paquibato village chief on Tuesday night by members of the New People's Army (NPA), calling the act as banditry in its purest form.
"There are no more principles and ideologies being fought for," Chief Superintendent Andres Caro II, regional police director, said in an interview Wednesday.
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"Para lang silang mga kawatan (They are just plain thieves)," Caro said.
According to initial reports from Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Ambal of the 73rd Infantry Battalion, at least 4 members of the rebel group killed Barangay Fatima chieftain Custodio Varona at around 9 p.m. Tuesday in the barangay public market.
Supporter
Ambal said Varona was a known supporter of the anti-communism drive in his village, and that could have been the primary motive in his killing.
Apart from being the barangay chief, Ambal said Varona was also a member of the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit, locally known as Cafgu.
Robbery
Caro said the actions of the NPA were plain banditry and do not bespoke the ideologies it claim to represent.
"They took the wristwatch, .45 caliber pistol, cash of about P10,000 -- which were the earnings of Varon's wife from the market," Caro said. "What else can you call that?" Caro asked.
For his part, Senior Superintendent Jaime Morente, Davao City Police Office director, said the rebels have already turned their ideologies into a simple moneymaking venture, and they prey on the vulnerable sectors of the society.
"It is very deplorable that they are now targeting civilians," Morente said.
"Kung agaw-armas lang, sana yung baril (They should have taken only the firearm), but they also took the personal belongings, even the earnings of the wife," Morente said. "It is as simple as robbery hold-up and murder," Morente added.
Anniversary
With the March 29 anniversary of the NPA fast approaching, more attacks on civilians can be expected, Morente said.
"It is part of their activities leading to March 29," Morente said.
Police in the far-flung villages of the city have been placed on heightened alert following the incident.
Duterte's support
The two police officers, however, refused to comment if the attack on a local executive, such as a barangay captain, could be attributed to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's criticism of the rebel group early this year after rebels killed Davao City businessman Vicente S. Ferrazzini in February.
It is believed that the 'relative peace' experienced by Davao City the past few years was due to the 'informal talks' between the city mayor and the rebel group.
Prior to the killing of Ferrazzini, the mayor was often heard as having respect for the ideology being fought for by the rebels but not for the means used, which is armed struggle.
But after the mid-day ambush on Ferrazini by a sparrow unit of the rebel group, the mayor expressed his abhorrence for the group. (CPM/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (March 20, 2008 issue)
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