ARMY CONDEMNS NPA'S LAND-GRABBING ACTIVITIES
The Philippine Army condemns the continuous land grabbing activities
perpetrated by the New People's Army particularly in the Negros
provinces.
Reports from the Philippine Army field units disclosed that KAUGMAON-KMP,
a militant farmer's group in Negros Oriental with close ties with the
New People's Army (NPA), is engaged in land grabbing activities and uses
the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command to harass and murder those that stand
in its way.
A letter signed by KAUGMAON Guihulngan Chairman Erwin Sabijon dated
April 16, 2009 threatens a certain Pedro S Edullantes, a peasant farmer
of Sitio Lagsing, Brgy Mani-ak, Guihulngan Negros Oriental and his
family for allegedly trampling on their human rights by disallowing them
to live and tend crops on the Edullantes farmland.
Sabijon and his group, KAUGMAON, insist that they will occupy that land
and threatens that if Edullantes will not cooperate then they will have
no other recourse than to resort to violence.
The Edullantes have been subjected to harassment by the NPAs. Perdro's
brother Lousorio barely escaped an attempt on his life when armed men
who identified themselves as NPA barged into his house and threatened
him at gun point. The most recent incident involved the shooting of
Louserio’s son, Joseph, in Sitio Casingan, Brgy Trinidad, Guihulngan
weeks ago that led to the death of SSg Rey Palomaria who immediately
responded to help the civilian and was ambushed by the NPA. The
Edullantes family also continues to receive threats from Erwin Sabijon
and the NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command.
Reports of NPA rebels engaging in land-grabbing activities, particularly
in Negros is not new. The Badayos plans, surrendered plans of Communist
Front Secretary Danilo Badayos in Negros, reveal that the NPA (pulang
hukbo) will assist in the implementation of the Genuine Agrarian Reform
(GAR) and employ any means necessary to acquire land for use of the
toiling masses and to support the armed struggle through the subsistence
of the underground movement. They acquire land through illegal means at
the expense of the true landowners who live peacefully cultivating their
land. Hacienda San Antonio formerly owned by Perla Bawaya dela Cruz in
Hibaiyo, Guihulngan City also suffered the same harassment from
KAUGMAHON.
Through out the years, communist rebellion has claimed thousands of
lives and left large areas of the countryside poor. The NPAs have
disrupted communities, created violence and terror. This has to stop.
The Philippine Army remains committed to thwart all attempts of the NPAs
to harass innocent civilians and disturb peace.
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