News of the people�s struggle
4 CAFGU MEMBERS WOUNDED IN SURIGAO AMBUSH
Four elements of the Citizens' Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were wounded in an ambush by New People's Army (NPA) fighters between Km. 61 and 62 in Tago, Surigao del Sur on November 25. The CAFGU were part of a convoy of armed escorts of the Surigao Development Corporation, a logging company. The NPA safely retreated after a 10-minute firefight.
NOTORIOUS INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVE PUNISHED IN ISABELA
Red fighters under the Benito Tesorio Front (BTF) of Isabela punished notorious intelligence operative Jose "Bianong" Portuges in Barangay Narra, Echague, Isabela on November 6. According to correspondence reports from the BTF, the punitive action was in accordance with the decision of the people's court on a number of Portuges' proven crimes against the revolutionary movement and the people. Portuges tipped off the military on the presence of an NPA unit in 1975 in Barangay Villa Rey, Echague, resulting in the death of two comrades, William Begg Jr. (Ka Benjie) and Ka Emy. In 1985, he again instigated the encirclement of an armed propaganda unit in Villa Rey, Echague that resulted in a firefight. The NPA was able to retreat but the military vented its ire on three farmers. One was killed and the other two wounded. On June 30 this year, another unit was tipped off by Portuges. He also engaged in carabao rustling in various barangays in Echague and served as guide in AFP operations.
The townspeople hailed the successful punitive action against Portuges.
PUNITIVE ACTIONS LAUNCHED
Four punitive actions were launched by the NPA in Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Leyte and Sorsogon this November.
In Nueva Ecija, the NPA torched two Autobus passenger buses and one Victory Liner bus along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Puncan, Carranglan on November 29. The two Autobuses owned by the late dictator Marcos' daughter and son-in-law Irene and Gregorio Araneta III, were bound for Manila, and passed a Victory Liner bus bound for Isabela. All three buses were blocked and burned by Red fighters as punishment for the bus companies' refusal to pay appropriate revolutionary taxes.
Prior to this, the NPA punished the chief of police of Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija on November 27. P/Sr. Insp. Romeo Pillonar was among those responsible for the death of eight comrades in Barangay Palestina, San Jose City in 1995. Four of Pillonar's cohorts had already been punished by the NPA.
In Batangas, NPA guerrillas punished JAC Liner by torching one of its airconditioned buses on November 23 in Sto. Tomas town. The punitive action was carried out because of the JAC Liner's continued refusal to comply with the revolutionary movement's taxation policy. The NPA had also torched one of its buses in February 1999.
In Leyte, Red fighters under the Mt. Amadewin Command (North Leyte Front) blocked and burned a Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) vehicle in Sityo Km. 14, Barangay Masarayao, Kananga on November 21. In a statement, the NPA explained that the PNOC was being punished for suppressing the rights of its workers. The NPA also warned two PNOC officials responsible for the violent dispersal of a strike by workers of the Leyte A Geothermal Project in October. The Leyte A Geothermal Project is being managed by the PNOC.
In Sorsogon, CAFGU element Maximo Fonteverde, who actively gather information for the military against the revolutionary movement, was punished by the NPA on November 27 in Barangay Mapaso, Irosin.
COJUANGCO'S LANDGRABBING IN ISABELA CONDEMNED
The Benito Tesorio Front (BTF) of Isabela condemned San Miguel Corporation (SMC) for landgrabbing 100,000 hectares covering five towns in the northwestern part of the province. SMC is owned by Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., Estrada's biggest crony. According to the BTF, many farmers in the towns of Mallig, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Sto. Tomas and Sta. Maria are being robbed of their land by the SMC in conspiracy with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), to pave the way for an SMC cassava plantation. A flour plant will also be set up in the town of Quezon.
Likewise, the BTF criticized the reorganization of the CAFGU in Jones, Isabela. According to the BTF, majority of the barangay captains of Jones objected in September to the scheme hatched by the 5th ID and town mayor Jesus Sebastian. The latter then succeeded in reversing the decision when they harassed the barangay captains and ordered a second round of voting. Said the BTF: "It is clear to the people that the AFP will only use the CAFGU in its 'counter-insurgency' program, which is but a terrorism campaign against the people. It is focused on suppressing the people's democratic rights, destroying their livelihood, houses and property, and murdering them."
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