News of Struggle
PNP official punished in Occidental Mindoro
The New People's Army (NPA) in Occidental Mindoro meted punishment on the PNP assistant provincial police director for operations in the province, Sr. Supt. Winston Ebersole. The punitive operation was conducted in the morning of August 29 in Barangay Labangan, Poblacion San Jose in the same province.
Ebersole was punished for his many transgressions against the people and the revolutionary movement in Occidental Mindoro. In a two-page statement, Comrade Victor Rivero, spokesperson of the Lucio de Guzman command (NPA-Mindoro) said that Ebersole was responsible for the torture and salvaging in November 1987 of Comrade Lucio de Guzman. The NPA's overall command in Mindoro was named after the latter, who was then secretary of the Mindoro Island Party Committee.
Ebersole was also responsible for the summary execution that same year of student leader Arnel Mendoza. Mendoza, said Comrade Rivero, was dropped into the sea from a helicopter.
These crimes were perpetrated by the 268th Philippine Constabulary Coy then led by Ebersole.
Ebersole was also involved in the formation of anti-communist vigilante groups and operated gun-for-hire, robbery, holdup and gunrunning syndicates.
2 policemen die in Agusan del Sur ambush
Two policemen from the Talacogon Police Station in Agusan del Sur were killed in an ambush by Red fighters on August 1.
SPO3 Antonio Godoy Labarete and PO1 Darwin de Jesus Tecson Jr. were conducting a regular patrol when ambushed by the guerrillas at the Del Monte Gym, Talacogon at around 10 p.m. while celebrating the barangay's fiesta.
The policemen died on the spot. The BHB confiscated from them a .45 and a 9 mm.
CAFGU recruiter punished
Red fighters punished Isabelo Barbecho II, an actve recruiter for the Citizens' Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) around morning of August 25.
Barbecho was former barangay captain of Barangay Pawa, Matnog, Sorsogon. He was punished by Red fighters after he ignored several warnings from the revolutionary movement to stop his avid recruitment of male residents in the barangay into the CAFGU. He also masterminded the formation of an intelligence network that caused the arrest or killing of revolutionary forces in the barangay and surrounding areas.
Barbecho was the brother of Col. Isabelo Barbecho III, former commander of the 2nd IB that is currently wreaking havoc in Juban, Sorsogon.
Defensive transformed to offensive in Cebu
Two Scout Ranger elements from Task Force Cebu were killed when their unit encircled an NPA camp in Sitio Bungyas, Barangay Ampungol, Sogod, Cebu City on August 20. The troops' commander, SSgt. Antonio Salinas, was also wounded.
The Scout Rangers were nearing the NPA camp at 10:25 a.m. when they were noticed by the Red fighters. The guerrillas immediately opened fire, inflicting casualties on the reactionary troops. The latter retreated, their plans of encircling the Red fighters foiled. There were no casualties on the NPA side.
BAYAN MUNA representatives sworn in
Bayan Muna representatives Crispin Beltran (Ka Bel), Satur Ocampo (Ka Satur) and Liza Masa (Ka Liza) were sworn in as congressmen on August 20.
In an interview, Ka Satur said that congressional work was merely an extension of the people's democratic movement.
On August 21, Bayan Muna filed its very first bill in Congress, House Bill No. 2605 that called for a P125 nationwide across-the-board increase for private sector workers and House Bill No. 2606 calling for a P3,000-increase in the monthly salaries of government employees.nt in
Right after the bills were filed, the three representatives joined a human chain along the streets surrounding the Batasang Pambansa. Among those who formed the human chain were various militant organidzations such as Wage Increase Solidarity.
The Bayan Muna representatives' oathtaking was delayed for months while the Supreme Court reviewed the qualifications of groups that participated in the party list elections.
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