The Agence France Press quoted Maj. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing, chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, as saying that two soldiers had indeed deserted their units and gone to enemy camps, purportedly to sell firearms.
However, the military denied the rebels’ claim that about 60 pro-government militiamen have also joined the New People’s Army (NPA).
Cpl. Edward Querante and Pfc. Boboy Abuhasad, both from the Army, sought refuge in guerrilla camps early this month, said Jorge Madlos, a spokesman for the communist National Democratic Front (NDF).
Two Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) companies under their command also went over to the communists, Madlos claimed.
They "ransacked their armory and deserted en masse. Many of them sought refuge and protection in NPA territory, bringing along their government-issued firearms," Madlos said.
Some, however, were later arrested by the military, he added.
Agusan del Sur police director Ramon Espiritu confirmed the defection of the two soldiers who he said belonged to the 29th Infantry Battalion of the Army’s 401st Infantry Brigade.
Espiritu said the two soldiers, along with a MNLF integree, abandoned their post in Esperanza town and took 10 Armalite rifles and ammunition with them.
Local authorities said the soldiers might have sold the firearms and ammunition to local guerrillas.
An Army spokesman, however, denied that two civilian companies, or about 60 men, had joined the communists, saying that all militia units in the field were "intact."
Madlos said the soldiers and the militiamen had complained of mistreatment from their officers, corruption and the delay of their allowances and supplies as among the reasons for the alleged defection.
Civilian sympathizers of the communists "facilitated their safe entry into NPA territory," Madlos said.
But Lt. Col. Narciso Alamag, spokesman of the 4th ID, said Querante and Abuhasad were allegedly of questionable character.
"They were actually undergoing investigation for illegal acts," he said, adding that one was allegedly engaged in the illegal drugs trade and the other allegedly in the selling of firearms.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The government earlier said it was preparing to resume talks with the NDF, the rebels’ political arm, in Oslo, Norway.
The talks were suspended two years ago when the NPA murdered two legislators.
In another development, suspected NPA rebels gunned down two miners inside their makeshift tent in the gold-rush area at the boundary of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur the other night.
Authorities said the victims, Artemio Ladines and Dranreb Manasis, had been camping in the area purportedly to prospect for precious stones. — Ben Serrano, Bong Fabe and AFP