ILOILO City – New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are not only terrorists; they are drug addicts, too.
This is the conclusion of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) after government troops recovered suspected shabu and a tooter from a rebel encampment in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
“This is an unusual development in our campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA,” said Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander.
Troops of the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion clashed with rebels twice in Sitio Cunalom, Barangay Carabalan on March 25. They subsequently overran the NPA hideout where they recovered firearms, explosives, mobile phones, rice supply and the suspected shabu and tooter, among others.
“This is alarming. This terrorist group is now resorting to introducing illegal drugs to their members. And we know that majority of their members are young people lured to join a senseless cause,” said Arevalo.
On March 26, another encounter took place and claimed the lives of siblings Arnulfo Sabanal, 41, and Jayson Sabanal, 30, both residents of Purok Lunoy, Sitio Cunalom, still in Himamaylan and members of the NPA’s Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros Front (CNF) 2.
Government troops recovered grenades, medical kit,; nine shotguns, ammunition, and documents which could have high intelligence value.
“Pinapagamit nila ang kanilang members ng illegal drugs to psychologically control them,” said Arevalo. “This only proves that the CPP-NPA are bandits, syndicates and lawless terrorists, and must be eradicated.”
He added: “(This) command, through the engaged units, will coordinate with the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies in filing appropriate charges related to this discovery.”
The series of encounters in Negros Island should also serve as an eye-opener to the remaining NPA rebels who are still on the run, said Arevalo.
“As we always say, there are only two things that could happen. They could either be captured or get killed. So again, we urge them to surrender before it’s too late,” said Arevalo.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) dismissed claims the two Sabanal brothers killed in a clash with troops of the 94th Infantry Battalion in Himamaylan City were not NPA fighters.
In a statement, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303IBde, said the two were not taken away by the soldiers but were among those who engaged the soldiers and were killed in a firefight.
“They were also identified by former CNF 2 members as those being utilized by the NPA to act as couriers and to the track movements of army personnel in operating in the area,” he added.
The younger Sabanal’s common-law wife said her partner and his brother were farmers raising hogs and were taken away and killed by soldiers.
But Pasaporte said government troops do not engage in such acts because they respect human rights. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
