Army to deploy elite forces in Samar to fight NPA rebs

The Philippine Army is deploying its elite forces in Samar to help fight local New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas whose number has grown significantly in the past four years.

Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commanding general of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan, Samar, said some 500 Special Forces and Army Scout Rangers from Luzon will be arriving in the island-province any time soon.

"The higher headquarters has approved my request for the deployment of Special Forces and Scout Rangers," Palparan told reporters at Fort Bonifacio.

The deployment of the Scout Rangers and Special Forces is in line with the Army’s target of reducing the insurgency problem in Samar to an insignificant level before the year ends.

Three Army battalions formerly stationed in Mindanao and Bohol were earlier deployed for anti-insurgency duties in Samar.

At least three Army brigades are now concentrated in Samar solely for anti-insurgency duties.

The massive deployment of government troops in the island-province, which has been a hotbed of communist insurgency in the past decades, has triggered criticisms from left-leaning and cause-oriented groups.

At present, the NPA’s strength in Samar has increased from 610 fighters in 2000 to 1,144 in 2004, or an increase of 18.3 percent.

Over the four-year period, Palparan said the lack of development and active local governance have enabled the rebels to set up their own "shadow government" by terrorizing villagers.

He claimed that a number of barangay officials even became active officers and members of the rebels’ "shadowy government," which he said has survived through extortion, targeting mainly the internal revenue allotments (IRAs) of municipalities.

In one municipality, Palparan said a councilor was even the rebels’ finance officer in the area.

"In the past four years, hundreds have been killed in Samar. The victims of these killings were municipal mayors, barangay captains, and ordinary people who refused to cooperate with the NPA. There were no complaints because the NPA controlled the area," he added.

The rebels recently intensified attacks in an effort to help oust President Arroyo. They have suspended peace talks, saying her administration was on the verge of collapse.

The US government and the European Union consider the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA, its armed wing, to be terror groups.