GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon on Friday, March 1, dared the Philippine Army in the province to name the politicians who are allegedly supporting or getting support from the New People’s Army (NPA).
“They should name names because their sweeping statement is unfair to other politicians. At least we would know who these politicians are. If they continue to issue statement without naming names it may create fear and panic to some politicians who are mere suspects,” Marañon said.
Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson had also urged the authorities to name the public officials in the province who allegedly support the NPA to dispel speculation.
“The statement was very general where no specific names were mentioned. I think, if they don’t want to publicly mention the names, maybe they can personally inform these officials that their names appear as supporters of the NPAs. In that case, it would be fair to everybody because as it is right now, without mentioning names, we were all being accused of supporting the NPAs and that is not fair,” he said.
Last February 7, Col. Benedict Arevalo, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia said an intelligence report identified at least three mayors in the province who are getting support or supporting the NPA.
“There is one mayor in (the) south, one in the central and another one in the north. At least three mayors so there could be more including some other local officials,” Arevalo said, without naming names.
“I cannot name names because I also want to protect them. We will not judge them and we will not take it against them. It is not our job in the military to prove their guilt,” Arevalo said.
He said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government has already warned the local officials against supporting or getting support from the NPA rebels because it is illegal.
“The persistent intel report is that these politicians and giving or getting financial support, logistics, manpower, Private Armed Groups from the NPAs,” Arevalo added.