AFP eyes 2 towns as source of NPA rebel fighters
Expect massive government-initiated public awareness forums in one Iloilo town and another in Capiz as intelligence reports tagged these as sources of communist terrorists New People's Army (NPA).
In fact, some 30% to 40% of new NPA recruits came from hinterland barangays of these towns identified by Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, Commanding Officer of the 32nd Civil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here as the towns of Calinog, Iloilo and Tapaz, Capiz.
As such, Captain Marquez disclosed plans to conduct barangay-based talks "very soon" if only to increase awareness of the locals on the recruitment made by communist leaders operating under the Central Front Committee (CFC) of the Communist Party of the Philipines (CPP).
The recruits are mostly "tumandoks," or native settlers with unresolved issues against the government particularly on domain and land ownership here.
Captain Marquez said the situation has since been exploited by the CPP-NPA through members in legal front organizations.
Calinog and Tapaz hinterland barangays were once in the news on the controversy generated by alleged militarization in the area.
"They are using the tumandoks as NPA recruits because they have long started the ideological brainwashing here. And they do not need a lot of background investigation on these people," Captain Marquez added.
With the forthcoming public forums, corresponding communication will also be made to respective local government unit officials with Captain Marquez optimistic of LGU support on the AFP's anti-insurgency drive.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Army presented to the media two young NPA members who voluntarily surrendered to the government forces.
Aldren Glaiz, 20, and Relyn Celeste, 19, both of Tapaz town in Capiz, surrendered to Lt. Col. Earl Baliao of the 47th Infantry Battalion based in Calinog last May 25, 2007.
The two, actually, are lovers who want to get married reason why they get out of the rebel movement.
The two were tasked to cook for the unit of Francisco Balaoing, who leads an NPA unit operating in the upland barangays nestled in the boundary of Calinog town in Iloilo and Tapaz. They became close and eventually fell in love with each other. But they kept their relationship from their leaders for fear that the latter would disapprove.
Glaiz and Celeste also said that another reason why they surrendered was that he became disillusioned with the armed movement.
"I see no future in them. There is no direction," Glaiz stressed.