• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The New People’s Army Apolinario Gatmaitan Command rejected anew the “localized peace engagement” being pushed by the new leadership of Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade and also supported by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
In a statement, Ka Maoce Legislador, spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, said that that they will never engage, in what he described as “phony undertaking.”
Instead, Legislador said that NPA units in Negros Island have been ordered to mount tactical offensives against government forces.
Lacson, who expressed his full support to the localized peace talks, said it has been an ongoing effort in the past several years, stressing that many rebels have in fact already surrendered to avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government.
It’s not really more on talking, but more of what the government can offer in return for their surrender, especially if they have guns, which has a corresponding monetary value, the governor said.
Legislador, however, said that Samson’s call for “local peace talks” is quickly exposed as murderous psychological warfare that is a failed attempt at deodorizing the 303rd Brigade’s brutal counterrevolutionary war.
He also debunked military claims that there was encounter between 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers and NPA units under the Mt. Cansermon Command on January 9 in Sitio Malikoliko, Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
The encounter, as reported by the 94IB, claimed the life of a rebel combatant and resulted in the recovery of five high powered firearms, among others.
Legislador alleged that the military killed a farmer he identified as Jose Gonzales.
Additionally, according to military reports, another encounter ensued in Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, claiming the life of another NPA member.
Legislador said that the focused military operations that allegedly caused serious harm to the people, must be foiled through the conduct of tactical offensives.*
