NPA ‘shadow gov’t’ in Davao uncovered
THE Armed Forces of the
Philippines’ 10th Infantry Division rushed more “Peace and Development
Teams” (PDT) in the tri-boundary area of Davao del Norte after
confirming the existence there of a “shadow government” being run by the
Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
Col. Leon Galon, spokesman of the East Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said the discovery came after a bombing incident last month in the vicinity of San Isidro, Davao del Norte, where the rebels blew a passing military convoy hurting one soldier.
“It later turned out that the entire area is already under direct communist influence thru their so-called ‘Hukpong Organisadong Masa’ (HOM) wherein the CPP-NPA actually runs the local affairs,” Galon said.
“We consider that incident a ‘blessing in disguise’ of sort,” he said.
Specifically, the areas now under immersion activities by the AFP thru its PDTs are the tri-boundary towns of Laak, San Isidro and Asuncion.
Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesman of the 10th ID, for his part, told People’s Tonight that in San Isidro alone, three PDTs have been ordered deployed by 10th ID chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia and several more in the nearby communities.
San Isidro is allegedly the “center” of CPP-NPA influence in the area and is where the family of an alleged ranking NPA leader, Ademar “Ka Bombo” Etol, resides.
Etol is said to the commander of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 33.
On Thursday, still unidentified men tried to burn down Etol’s house made from bamboo and nipa in Purok 9, Bgy. Igangon, while his wife, Helen and daughter-in-law Princess were inside together with two children.
Paniza immediately denied the military has a hand in the arson incident. “Ano ang makukuha namin kung gagawin namin ‘yun samantalang mas mahalaga sa amin na makuha ang simpatiya at kalooban ng mga biktima?” he told this reporter.
He averred “some groups” are trying to stir trouble in the area so this can be blamed on the military leading to a call for their withdrawal.
Col. Leon Galon, spokesman of the East Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said the discovery came after a bombing incident last month in the vicinity of San Isidro, Davao del Norte, where the rebels blew a passing military convoy hurting one soldier.
“It later turned out that the entire area is already under direct communist influence thru their so-called ‘Hukpong Organisadong Masa’ (HOM) wherein the CPP-NPA actually runs the local affairs,” Galon said.
“We consider that incident a ‘blessing in disguise’ of sort,” he said.
Specifically, the areas now under immersion activities by the AFP thru its PDTs are the tri-boundary towns of Laak, San Isidro and Asuncion.
Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesman of the 10th ID, for his part, told People’s Tonight that in San Isidro alone, three PDTs have been ordered deployed by 10th ID chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia and several more in the nearby communities.
San Isidro is allegedly the “center” of CPP-NPA influence in the area and is where the family of an alleged ranking NPA leader, Ademar “Ka Bombo” Etol, resides.
Etol is said to the commander of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 33.
On Thursday, still unidentified men tried to burn down Etol’s house made from bamboo and nipa in Purok 9, Bgy. Igangon, while his wife, Helen and daughter-in-law Princess were inside together with two children.
Paniza immediately denied the military has a hand in the arson incident. “Ano ang makukuha namin kung gagawin namin ‘yun samantalang mas mahalaga sa amin na makuha ang simpatiya at kalooban ng mga biktima?” he told this reporter.
He averred “some groups” are trying to stir trouble in the area so this can be blamed on the military leading to a call for their withdrawal.
Source: journal
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