AFP braces for NPA Holy Week attack

ANGELES CITY - The Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) bared yesterday alleged plans of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peopleís Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to sabotage ìvital installationsî during Holy Week.

In a statement, Nolcom also admitted that the ìextensive propaganda machineryî of the communist rebels ìseems to be gaining ground not only locally but also internationally.î

To address the alleged sabotage plot, Nolcom chief Lt. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos urged his troopers ìnever to let their guard down even during the Holy Week when most people of Catholic faithful observe the occasion with utmost solemnity.î

Ramos said he is ìvery particular about the security of vital installations and other facilities because damage to these infrastructure will extremely affect the governmentís economic recovery programs.î

He said Globe cell sites in Balanga, Orion and Hermosa in Bataan ìare reportedly targets of raid or harassment by the group of an NPA leader identified only as Ka Bokyoî and that airconditioned buses of Balanga Transit are also under threat of sabotage after the bus management refused to pay so-called ìrevolutionary taxesî to the communist underground movement.

Ramos also said that NPA rebels from the north and south platoons of the Zambales provincial committee led by Ka Brix or Akil and Ka Inso or Insiong plan to attack the command post of Bravo Company, 24th Infantry Battalion, the Rabanes Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit detachment of 70th Infantry Battalion and the police municipal station in Zambales.

ìKa Inso or Insiong was responsible for the liquidation of retired (police officer) Ismael Bactad of San Felipe last Dec. 18,î he said.

Ramos also cited ìmonitored plans of the CPP-NPA in Bulacan and other parts of the region to conduct tactical offensives.î

Ramos said the threats are ìaggravated by the brewing political tension brought about by the coming national and local elections,î adding that the NPA has ìstarted to impose ëpermit-to-winí and ëpermit-to-campaigní fees on selected candidates.î

He cited reports that recently, the CPP-NPAís Cagayan Valley regional committeeís central front met with local rebels operating in Barangay Ibujan, San Mariano, Isabela to discuss plans for the elections.

ìThe rebels were discouraged from supporting a mayoralty and a vice-mayoralty candidate in said municipality, as well as a retired military officer who is seeking a Sangguniang Bayan post due to their anti-communist stance,î he said.

The Nolcom also reported that last March 23, a mass grave was found in Sitio Callineg, Barangay Tamboli in Allacapan, Cagayan province.

The mass grave contained the remains of four members of the Marcos and Romero families of Barangay Bakiling in Aparri, Cagayan, who were reportedly executed by the communist rebels in 1987.

The grave was uncovered by soldiers of the 17th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Jacinto Bareng.

The soldiers were able to trace the site based on the joint affidavits executed by barangay kagawads Rolando Villamin, Lauro Valentin, Leonardo Avecilla and Rolando Bautista and barangay tanods Sabino Padiran and Mario Tejada, who had information on the executions.