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Bacolod City, Philippines Tuesday, November 6, 2012
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MILITARY SAYS
Rebels get another blow
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The arrest of an alleged finance officer of the Komiteng Rehiyal-Negros and the death of a rebel amazon suspected to be the logistics and medical officer of the NPA South West Front were described by the military as another blow to the leadership of the revolutionary movement in Negros island.

Sarah Alvarez, alias Ka Olsen, was apprehended Oct. 30 by a combined team of police and military personnel, by virtue of arrest warrants for murder and robbery-in-band, in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

On the same day, Julia Tabat, with the aliases of Ka Gab/Alex, an alleged logistics and medical officer of the NPA South West Front, died in an encounter with soldiers of the 47th Infantry Battalion in Candoni town.

Alvarez, who dismissed the criminal complaints filed against her as trumped-up charges, was denied bail by Cadiz Regional Trial Court Judge Renato Munez for the murder charges.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said Alvarez was also among the numerous respondents in robbery-in-band charges, that also included Tabat that reportedly stemmed from their alleged participation in the raid at the fish farm of Joseph Edgar Sarrosa in Cadiz City.

Alvarez, who remained locked up at the Cadiz police jail, however, said that because of the frustration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to cripple the NPA revolutionary movement in Negros, ordinary civilians are now being targeted by the military.

Lactao has ordered the 47th Infantry Battalion to assist the family of Tabat in giving her a decent burial, and also encouraged them to contribute and share what they can to soften the pain of the family.

In 2004, Tabat and two others were arrested in Cauayan by soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion, for illegal possession of explosives. However, she reportedly rejoined her comrades in the mountains, when she was released from jail, after posting bail.

Lactao said there was nothing personal in the Candoni encounter, which led to the death of Tabat, stressing that, “We also grieve whether soldiers or NPA members are killed, because we are all Filipinos”.

Lactao also said the arrest of Alvarez, who was linked to the murder of 1Lt. Archie Polenzo in 2010, will cripple the NPA extortion activities.

Lactao reiterated his call to the remaining rebels in Negros to abandon the armed struggle, and avoid getting arrested or jailed for atrocities they have committed, or worse, getting killed in armed clashes with security forces.

Sixty-nine rebels have already surrendered to the 303rd Infantry Brigade since last year until October this year, military records show.

Lactao said the Philippine Army and the provincial government of Negros Occidental are more than willing to assist NPA members with their re-integration into mainstream society, and with livelihood assistance.* GPB

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