MALAYBALAY CITY—Government troops discovered some 40 sacks of rice, assorted food items and medical supplies in the hinterland village of Valencia City in Bukidnon province Wednesday (February 14), the military said.
Troops of the Army’s 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB), who discovered the supplies, believe that these belong to the New People’s Army (NPA)—the armed wing of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
2Lt. Sancho Tomaquin, 88IB civil military operations officer, said their field unit discovered the supplies at sitio Bulacao, Brgy. Concepcion, Valencia City at around 8 a.m. Wednesday while conducting combat operations.
“Concerned citizens have informed our troops about the presence of the NPA conducting extortion activities in their community. They also informed us about the existence of the hidden supplies and guided them in the area,” Tomaquin told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.
The military official said the recovered items may have been “extorted” from civilians, including local businessmen and government officials.
He said the items were discovered buried in plastic water containers in a forested area, with a total of 67 water containers filled with rice and two drums filled with medical supplies and assorted food items.
The CMO chief said residents in the area complained of being forced to provide the NPA food, money, logistics materials and are even coerced to transport these supplies to the designated rebel “drop-off points.”
In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Randy Remonte, 88IB commanding officer, thanked the concerned citizens of Brgy. Concepcion for their cooperation that led to the discovery of the NPA supplies.
Remonte said the discovery of the hidden supplies appears to show that “there are still those who continue to aid the CPP-NPA, especially the local businessmen and even the local officials.”
He reminded everyone that “aiding terrorists is against the law and they will be liable under Section 4 of Republic Act 10168.”
R.A. 10168 is an act defining the crime of financing of terrorism, providing penalties therefor and for other purposes.
On February 11, villagers from Barangay Cagawasan, Kibawe, Bukidnon composed of 26 families fled their homes due to NPA’s threats.
The military quoted Cagawasan Barangay chairman Roland Perequitte claiming that the NPA started threatening him and his fellow barangay folks to be killed when they decided to withdraw their support to the rebel group. (Mel B. Madera/PNA)
