News
POLICE CHIEF PUNISHED BY RED FIGHTERS IN BOHOL
A PNP official who owed blood debts to the people and the revolutionary movement was punished by the New People's Army.
Chief Insp. Ruel Lagala, Tagbilaran City police chief, was felled by the NPA in a sparrow operation. Lagala was punished around 8 a.m. last October 5 in Carmen, Bohol.
Lagala formerly headed the 2nd District Mobile Group of Tagbilaran which was responsible for a raid on the home of Felix Pamat on August 5, 1997 in Purok II, Bgy. San Roque, Sagbayan, Bohol. Cristituto Cagabcab, staff of NDFP consultant Vide Alguna, was killed by Lagala's troops during the raid. The homeowner and his three children were also seriously wounded.
The NDFP condemned the attack by Lagala's team as a violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the NDFP.
ENEMY AGENT IN AGUSAN PUNISHED
A four-man NPA team punished a notorious enemy of the people in Agusan del Norte.
Deo Ongcad Manguanta, member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit or CAFGU, was punished with death last October 30 in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
The people in the locality have long been demanding the punishment of Manguanta because of his active role in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' counterrevolutionary campaign. He led the Kalihukang Nagkahiusang Minorya, a bogus cooperative set-up by the 4th Infantry Division of the AFP to veer the Higaonon tribespeople away from revolution. Manguanta was also active in surveillance operations and the recruitment of lumad to the CAFGU. Giant foreign corporations used him as an instrument to grab land from the minorities.
CPP CONDEMNS ATTACK ON CIVILIANS
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemned the attack by 9th Scout Rangers Company troops on a house in Sitio Pulot, Bgy. San Antonio, Kalayaan, Laguna last November 6.
CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal denied that a firefight occurred during the assault.
The military raided the house of Priscilla and Jose Federico at around 5 a.m. The Federicos, three other civilians and Ka Jonas, an aide of Ka Roger, were illegally arrested and charged with criminal offenses. The soldiers looted and later demolished the Federicos' house and store. Ka Jonas was hidden from and deprived of his right to confer with, his relatives and lawyer.
Ka Roger said this showed that the GRP continues to trample on the people's human rights. He assailed the reactionary government's blatant violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. Ka Roger challenged the GRP to honor the Agreement it had signed.
NDFP APPOINTS REPRESENTATIVES TO THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE
The NDFP Negotiating Panel (NDFP) appointed its three representatives to the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) that will supervise the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
In a resolution issued September 23, the NDFP appointed Fidel V. Agcaoili as its chief representative as well as co-chair and co-mediator of the JMC. Coni K. Ledesma and Sotero Llamas were also designated representatives and members of the committee. The NDFP nominated as observers Rt. Rev. Alberto Ramento of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and Marie Hilao-Enriquez of the Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (Karapatan).
In its resolution, the NDFP announced that it shall establish within and outside the Philippines, offices that shall handle issues related to human rights. This is in accordance with its inherent right to implement its separate duties and responsibilities and to uphold, protect and promote human rights and international humanitarian law based on its political and organizational principles and circumstances.
KADAMAY FOUNDED
The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), a national alliance of various urban poor community organizations, was founded last November 7. It is an alliance of the semiproletariat, which includes associations of drivers, vendors, casual and contractual workers; laid-off workers; and victims of militarization and calamities. Associations of women and the youth in urban poor communities will also be encouraged to join the alliance.
In a statement of unity, Comrade Jose Ma. Sison, CPP founding chairman, said that the formation of an alliance like KADAMAY is long overdue. "The economic crisis is worsening and the exploitation and oppression by the ruling class is intensifying," Sison said. He suggested that workers in communities be encouraged to join the alliance, whether or not they are union members. This, he said, will ensure strong and firm links between the proletariat and the semiproletariat in the urban poor communities.
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