Bayan confirms international meeting

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) has confirmed the reports that the militant groups are holding their own international conference in time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in December.

Bayan president for Central Visayas, Paul Rodriguez, said that the Asia Pacific Conference of the International Leagues of the People Struggle would be a gathering of the leaders of people's organizations from different parts of the Asian region.

Rodriguez denied the police and military reports that their intention is to sabotage and create havoc during the gathering of the heads of states during the ASEAN Summit on December 11-14 here in Cebu.

Rodriguez said it would be a legitimate gathering of people's organizations to map out their own solution to the problems that beseech the country today. He however said that there is no final schedule yet.

Rodriguez likewise denied reports that the conference will be funded out of the money extorted by the members of the New People's Army from multinationals, business establishments, transportation companies, and other entities.

According to Rodriguez, the delegates to the conference will be contributing funds to finance the activity. He said they also have wealthy members, who are supporting them financially.

Bayan-Cebu secretary general Armand Perez in a separate interview said that the international conference, which is also slated on December 11-14 the same schedule of the 12th ASEAN summit, will tackle different issues not only those affecting the Philippines, but other countries as well.

Perez said they are expected to come up with a position paper during the conference, which they intend to present to the delegates of the ASEAN Summit. He said they also have plans to hold peaceful rallies during the event.

He added that among the countries, which signified their intention to send delegates to the international conference, include Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Myanmar, Malaysia, India Pakistan, Brunei and even the United States of America. Perez said they also expect delegates from the European communities.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Jose Jorge Corpuz earlier said that the NPA through their legal fronts led by Bayan as the umbrella organization is allegedly planning to sabotage the ASEAN Summit.

Corpuz claimed that the information was revealed to them during the tactical interrogation of the two arrested NPA leaders, Gerard Lavadia and Sharon Abangan, secretary of the Central Visayas Regional Party Committee and team leader of the NPA hit squad, respectively.

Lavadia, 34, who is also a member of the NPA's taxation bureau, was reportedly delegated to extort money from business establishments in Cebu.

Abangan, 33, on the other hand is said to be the team leader of the sparrow unit operating in Central Visayas.

The two were arrested at the Talisay South Central Market last Friday during a joint entrapment operation conducted by the military and the police. They were caught in the act of extorting money from an official of a cement factory in San Fernando.

Recovered from them were the P250,000 cash, which they received from the cement factory, lap top computer that they also demanded from the factory, fragmentation grenade, two caliber .45 pistol and several subversive documents.

The money that they have extorted will supposedly used to finance their own activity in December. Police Regional Office-7 chief Silverio Alarcio, Jr. offered to provide security to the militant groups during their own international conference.

Alarcio said he will talk with the leaders of the militant groups to help them in the security preparations.

According to Alarcio, if the militant groups have really no intentions to create havoc during the ASEAN summit they should be willing to coordinate with the police.

"We will touch base with them to discuss how to have a peaceful assembly. We would provide them security in the area and even traffic assistance," Alarcio said in an interview over DYLA.

Perez welcomed Alarcio's offer for security saying that they are willing to sit down with the police official for a dialogue to prove to them that their intention is not really to sabotage the ASEAN summit.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for his part, said he does not mind if the group holds another international gathering of their own, because holding such gathering is not illegal per se. He warned, however, that he can tolerate the gathering as long as its peaceful and does not destroy properties.

"I don't think its illegal as long as its peaceful and they don't destroy properties," he said.

Osmeña said that more than the holding of another gathering, he is concerned more of suicide bombers. He earlier expressed that suicide bombers are more difficult to control because they sacrifice their lives just to do their mission.

He said activities such as these and contingencies are expected with the holding of the summit here. He once again called on the public to help monitor unusual activities in the city.

"We asked for it, we have to prepare for it...we have to be careful and monitor activities," Osmeña said.

As a security measure, PRO-7 plans to recommend the implementation of curfew in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu during the event.

PRO-7 assistant regional director for operations S/Supt. Lani-O Nerez said they are still conducting further assessment if there is a need to implement curfew in three cities.

Speaking during the 888 News Forum at Parklane Hotel, Nerez said they will closely coordinate first with officials of the three cities.

" Kinahanglan pa hinoon nga tun-an nato pag-ayo kon angayan ba gayud nga atong ipatuman ang ordinansa bahin sa curfew," Nerez said. - with Joeberth Ocao and Jose P. Sollano