Reports from Correspondents:
News from the Cagayan Valley Region

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MORE THAN 500 FAMILIES IN ISABELA BENEFIT FROM AGRARIAN REVOLUTION

In the Benito Tesorio Front in Isabela, more than 500 families have benefited from the fruits of the first wave of implementation of the agrarian revolution campaign launched by the New People�s Army. In the whole of Cagayan Valley, more than 1,000 families from the poor and lower-middle peasantry likewise benefited from various antifeudal struggles waged last year.

Asserting their right to the land

In a village within the front, peasants militantly asserted their right to till a parcel of land that they had long been farming after the reactionary government grabbed it, declared it public land and had it planted with Gmelina trees. This, the government perpetrated despite the lack of land for villagers to till.

In February 2000, the land was "reclaimed" by its rightful owners�the poor peasants who had long developed it. More than 20 families were involved in the struggle. Because they were organized, they had the capability to fight for their rights and defend the gains of their successful struggle. I n another village, peasants were able to lower land rent from 1/3 of the gross harvest to 1/4 of the net harvest. This was after they dialogued and forged an agreement with the rich peasant from whom they rented the land.

Raising wages

It was in the campaign to raise the wages of farm workers that the biggest victories were scored. More than 480 families from the basic masses in three barrios

benefited. A big percentage of the population in these villages belonged to mass organizations. Meanwhile, some members of the Sangguniang Barangay were members of cells for the middle forces.

In one village, wages were raised from P70 to P80 for planting and harvesting. A bigger raise was achieved for plowing, cutting grass and panaglimbang. The organized peasants initiated the campaign among farm workers by asking them to sign a petition to raise wages. The petition was presented before the Barangay Assembly and supported by members of the Sangguniang Barangay.

In another village, the masses also asserted their demand before the Barangay Assembly. But because they found the raise approved by the Barangay Council (P5.00) too low, they fought for a higher raise before the individuals who hired farm workers. Just as in the first village, they were able to raise wages from P70 to P80 (for planting and harvesting) in two areas.

The highest wage increase was achieved in the third village. The Barangay Assembly voted to raise wages from P70 to P100 (also for planting and harvesting). An even higher wage hike was achieved for plowing and cutting grass.

Growing struggle

Aside from these successful campaigns, a petition is currently being circulated to lower interests on loans, raise the prices of banana crops and allow the return of poor peasants who had been expelled from the land by hacienderos.

AFP CAPTIVE KA ANDREA ESCAPES

After being incarcerated inside a camp of the reactionary AFP for more than six months, Cheryl Arcilla (Ka Andrea) was able to escape from the 5th ID hospital at Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Soyung, Echague on January 30.

Ka Andrea was captured by the enemy in Dapis, Mapalad, San Agustin on July 6, 2000 while she was recuperating from an illness in a peasant�s house.

Upon her arrest, she was charged with multiple murder, a non-bailable offense. She was accused of involvement in the ambush of Col. Josefino Manayao and 15 others on June 27 in Linumot, Jones, Isabela. Aside from other members of the New People�s Army, other innocent persons who had nothing to do with the Manayao ambush were also charged such as NDFP chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison, Fr. Luis Jalandoni, members of KARAPATAN, church people and others.

While a captive of the enemy, Ka Andrea was forced to join military operations and made to talk over the radio against her will. A few days before her escape, the AFP had even bragged that she would turn state witness against the other accused.

CONTINUING ATTACKS BY THE FASCIST MILITARY IN CAGAYAN VALLEY

On February 14, 2001, the CPP-NPA-NDF in Cagayan Valley issued a statement condeming the fascist attacks of the AFP from December 9, 2000 to January 9, 2001. This article lists incidents in addition to those mentioned on December 14, 2000 regarding the AFP�s violations of its self-declared suspension of offensive military operations or SOMO. Following are some of the more brazen cases:

In Eastern Cagayan

Since November 26, barriofolk in Amulung, Alcala and Baggao have been battered by military operations that have been conducted without letup up to the present.

On January 8, about three platoons launched an operation in Dalaoig, Cataraoan, Capacuan and other villages in Alcala. The military even burned down a poultry house in Dalaoig.

Prior to this, AFP troops led by a Captain Lapizar encircled on December 4 several houses in Barrio Bagunot, Baggao whose residents were suspected of hosting Red fighters. When no Red fighters were found, the soldiers terrorized and threatened the village folk. The villagers were forced to stop their farming and other activities out of fear. The AFP troops came back to terrorize the barriofolk and ransacked their homes on December 9.

In the first week of January, with the start of the New Year, PNP and AFP forces "gifted" residents of Barsat West, Baggao and other nearby villages with a military operation.

Paramilitary forces are also being set up despite opposition from the local folk. The CAFGU has been forcibly set up in Dadda, Amulung; and in the villages of Mocag, Mabini, Bitag Peque�o and Agaman Norte in Baggao. Meanwhile, villagers continue to fiercely resist the recruitment and setting up of CAFGU units in the barrios of Alba, San Antonio, Barsat West, Masical, Sta. Margarita, Bitag Grande, San Vicente, Bagunot, Caruppian, Taguing and others in Baggao; and in the barrios of San Manuel, Manalo and Monte Alegre in Amulung.

In Western Cagayan

According to correspondence reports from the Danilo Ben Front in Western Cagayan, the 41st IB launched continuous combat operations in the towns of Rizal (in Zinundungan Valley), Lasam, Sto. Ni�o, Piat, Tuao and Allacapan. Operations continue in Zinundungan Valley.

In Southeastern Isabela

Military operations have continued without letup since November 13, 2000 in southeastern Isabela. According to correspondence reports from the Benito Tesorio Front, five platoons of the 54th IB PA are conducting operations in the Jones-San Agustin-San Guillermo area. A platoon of the 5th ID Reconnaissance Company has been sent to beef up forces in Jones, Isabela. Repeated operations were launched in Pag-asa, Narra, Aromin, Salvacion, Villa Campo, Villa Rey, Mabbayad, Madadamian and Magleticia in Echague town; in Aringgay, San Guillermo; in Dicamay, Villa Bello, Linumot, Santa Isabel, Napaliong and Dibuluan in Jones, Isabela and other nearby areas. Military operations were also launched in Dicamay Uno, Dicamay Dos, Diarsatan and Villa Bello in Jones.

When military operations were launched in Echague, Jones and Angadanan, two members of the New People�s Army, Mar "Ka Mar" Rodriguez and JR "Ka CJ" Bulusan, were forcibly taken along. They were captured by the 54th IB on November 18, 2000 in Maddadamian, Echague, Isabela. This is a clear violation of provisions of Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions regarding prisoners of war.

To justify their operations in the Angadanan- Echague-San Guillermo-Jones area which would be a patent violation of their own SOMO, the AFP spread rumors that the NPA was planning to attack the town halls of San Guillermo and Angadanan on December 28. It was not long before a military operation was launched in the area. But all it resulted in was a misencounter between the AFP (led by a Lieutenant Arbuez) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on January 1.

Shamefaced, the military captured on January 4 in Aringgan, San Guillermo, a 15-year-old civilian and barrio resident named Jun Aquino, and arrogantly displayed him like a war trophy. Elements of the 5th Recon Coy of the 5th Infantry Division terrorized the youth as they forced him to admit involvement in the NPA.

Prior to this, combat operations were launched from December 13 to 16 by two platoons of the 54th IB in the villages of Dicamay Uno, Dicamay Dos, Diarsatan and Villa Bello in Jones, Isabela. Although the fascist troops sported no nameplates, they were recognized by the masses in the area.

Commando and strike operations were also launched by AFP troops in civilian clothes in Aringgan, San Francisco, Mabbayad, Maddadamian, Dipanyong, Benguet and nearby villages in the town of San Guillermo. Some of them posed as Red fighters.

Strike operations were likewise conducted in Garit Sur, Rumang-ay, Dammang West, Dammang East, Reserba and Barkadero in Echague town; and commando operations in Narra, Salvacion, Aromin, Villa Campo and Babaran in the same town from December 2 to 6.

In Northern Isabela

Based on correspondence reports from the Filomena Asuncion Front, widespread suppression campaigns were being conducted by fascist troops of the Bravo Coy of the 45th IB based in Sto. Rosario, Delfin Albano and Manano Mallig, Isabela. Commando and combat operations continued relentlessly in Quirino, Delfin Albano, Ilagan, Tumauini, Cabagan and other nearby towns during the SOMO.

Intense terrorist and psywar operations are being waged by 45th IB troops led by Lieutenant Quiendo against villagers who host Red fighters.

In Central Isabela

According to correspondence reports from the Reynaldo Pi�on Front, four platoons of the 45th IB launched combat operations from December 8 up to mid-December. They launched another operation during the New Year in the villages of Benito Soliven, San Mariano, Naguilian and Cauayan.

In Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya

According to reports from the Venerando Villacillo Front, ceaseless operations are launched by the 54th IB of the 502nd Brigade likewise in San Agustin, Aglipay and Nagtipunan. The same is true in the Dupax-Aritao area up to Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, where more troops from the 5th ID have been poured in.

Led by Lt. Michael Glen Manansala, the 54th IB mercilessly killed two suspected NPA members Luis dela Cruz and Roger dela Cruz in Sitio Sangaydi, Villa Gracia, Maddela, Quirino on December 17. No less than the PNP in Maddela attested to the fact that those killed by the AFP were ordinary civilians.

Aside from waging counterrevolutionary war, forces of the 5th ID are also involved in criminal activities. Its fascist troops have perpetrated many cases of highway robbery along the Maharlika Highway, near the Nueva Vizcaya-Nueva Ecija border. Before the New Year, they robbed a balikbayan who hailed from Luna, Isabela of more than P100,000 in cash aside from jewelry between Carranglan, Nueva Ecija and Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.

February 2001
English Edition

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