The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army- National Democratic Front in southwest Negros lauded the family of slain Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles for their fight for justice, and encouraged those who may have knowledge about his death to come out and help solve the heinous crime.

Andrea Guerrero, spokesperson of the Armando Sumayang Command, said the involvement of members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, that she labeled as “mercenaries and bandits” was an expected development.

Guerrero, in a statement, also claimed that being “goons for hire” has become the RPA-ABB’s main source of livelihood, and that they are being hired by politicians, as well as some landlords in order to suppress and oppress the peasants’ struggle for genuine land reform.

Five members of the RPA-ABB in southern Negros, as well as Ilog Mayor John Paul Alvarez and his aide, Emmanuel Medes, are facing a complaint for the murder of Arles filed by the National Bureau of Investigation before the Department of Justice.

RPA-ABB spokesman Victorino Sumulong yesterday said the NPA is creating a scenario and engaging in black propaganda to put their organization in a bad light, because of the imminent signing of the closure of their peace agreement with the government.

Sumulong said the NPA front organizations even lodged complaints against them before the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and other government agencies, that have been dismissed for lack of evidence.

The bottom line, he added, is that the NPA wants to destroy the peace agreement between them and the government.

Guerrero also alleged that members of the RPA-ABB were also involved in the hold-up of a barangay kagawad, a businesswoman and a family in Brgys. Canlamay and Tabu, Ilog, who were divested of a total of P220,000 in cash.

This was on top of P450,000 they had taken from a swine and cattle buyer at a stockyard in Kabankalan City, she said.

Guerrero further claimed that the P33 million from the OPPAP supposedly intended for the reintegration program and development projects of the RPA-ABB, will go to the individual pockets of Veronica Tabara, Carapali Lualhati, Sumulong, Rustom Puro, Salve, among others.

Sumulong said there is nothing new in the accusations of the NPA against them.*GPB

back to top