“Tayam was never a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) nor any revolutionary organization, ” said Ka Samuel Guerrero, spokesperson of the NPA-Sorsogon, refuting claims of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Daraga. The local PNP unit presented Richard Dayton Tayam to the media as a member of the NPA on July 30 after his arrest.

According to NPA-Sorsogon, Tayam was a former gun-for-hire who hails from Barangay San Juan, Bacon District, Sorsogon City. He was also charged with murder for killing a mentally-disabled individual last January 17, 2018.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP are desperate,” commented Guerrero. “They present anyone as part of the NPA,” he added.

Guerrero meanwhile called on media workers and journalists in Bicol region to be more critical on news released and presented by the AFP and PNP. Duterte’s state forces have long used this tactic of linking criminal elements to the revolutionary movement in its desperation to malign the NPA.

Guerrero also denounced the AFP for misrepresenting unarmed civilians as part of the armed revolution. In Sorsogon province alone, three were killed in the first half of the year after being repeatedly tagged as Red fighters.

Guerrero similarly cited the recent arrest of activists under the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Sorsogon (SAMASOR-KMP) and Sorsogon People’s Organization (SPO). “They have become favorite targets of the AFP and PNP in their dirty tactic,” he said.

Chasing after civilians, the AFP and PNP, according to Guerrero are paranoid and afraid. “Instead of pursuing the revolutionary movement, they are contented with their dirty tactics as they see it impossible to quell the revolution as Duterte wanted,” Guerrero said.

As the 2022 national elections approaches, these rights violations are set to intesify according to Guerrero. “We are calling on the people of Sorsogon: unite and fight the AFP and PNP’s fascist attacks,” he ended.