CPP-NPA-NDF BEHIND TINANG INCIDENT – FORMER REBELS
CPP-NPA-NDF BEHIND TINANG INCIDENT – FORMER REBELS
THE Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) were pinpointed as the masterminds behind the chaos that ensued at the disputed land in Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac last weekend.
This was revealed yesterday by former members of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) during a special virtual press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Christopher Garcia, formerly known as "Ka Warly", who is now a board member of Sambayanang Gitnang Luzon, said that the CTGs have initiated the "Bungkalan" mobilization campaign in Hacienda Tinang wherein communist rebels will move in disputed agricultural lands in the country, including Hacienda Luisita.
"Ito ay pagpapalawak din ng baseng-masa (mass-based) at balikan ang mga lugar na dati nilang hawak. Alam namin yun dahil naranasan namin yan," Garcia said, referring to the CTG's efforts to take back their former lair from government forces.
He added that the Tinang incident is just a starting point of the CTG’s focused efforts to sow chaos for the incoming administration.
"Ayaw nilang maupo si BBM (President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong Marcos Jr.)," Ka Pong Sibayan, another former CTG member, explained.
She added that the CTGs have been using the “bungkalan” mobilization for recruiting and radicalizing the youth and to seek foreign funding.
"Negosyo nila (CTG) yan. Binubulsa naman ng mga lider ang nakokolektang pondo at hindi napupunta sa mga magsasaka," Sibayan explained.
The two also accused Renato Reyes of Bayan Muna, Pia Montalban and Joyce Ann Nepomuceno of Karapatan, as "urban operatives" of the CPP-NPA-NDF, and well-known for sowing disinformation and agitations.
"Hihimukin ang mga magsasaka hanggang June 30," Ka Warly said, adding that similar campaigns are also being prepared in Hacienda Murcia near Hacienda Tinang, and in Barangay Central near Hacienda Luisita by members of other CTG-affiliated groups such as "Anak Pawis" and Unyon ng Manggagawang Agrikultura (UMA) to further instigate the youth and farmers.
"Gusto nilang pag-away-awayin ang mga magsasaka para magulo ang bagong administrasyon," he explained.
NOT FROM TINANG
Meanwhile, Orlando Baluyot, Chairperson of the Tinang Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc., explained that the police where just doing their duty to protect crops owned by the cooperative that were deliberately being destroyed by the CTGs.
“Nung June 9, yung mga barangay officials sa amin ay nagsabi sa amin na may dalawang traktora na nandodoon na maninira ng tubo. Kaagad po ay pumunta kami doon kasama ang mga board of directors naming,” Baluyot said, adding that this prompted them to call the police in order to stop the perpetrators from further destroying their crops.
“Simula't sapul pa lang na nandito kami sa Barangay Tinang ay hindi po kami naninira ng tao o nanloloko. Ang ginagawa lang po namin ay intindihin yung kabuhayan po ng mga miyembro po namin,” Baluyot added.
Baluyot also said that he and the barangay officials did not recognize anybody in the group, saying that, “Yung karamihan po ng mga taong nandodoon ay hindi namin kilala, eto yung kinagulat naming… Hindi po namin alam kung sinu-sino ang mga iyan at kung anong mga grupo sila.”
On this note, Garcia criticized losing candidates Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan for allegedly supporting those who sowed chaos in Tinang. According to him, “yung mga kabataan na involved sa Hacienda Tinang incident, ito ay yung mga supporters nila Leni at Kiko noong nakaraang eleksyon kaya nakikisawsaw sila… kahit mali na yung mga ginawa ng mga tao na ito, pilit pa nilang pinagtatanggol at pinagtatakpan at ipalabas na masama ang ating mga kapulisan.”
For her part, Spokesperson for Sectoral Concerns and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy said the results of the last elections plainly tell us that “walang tiwala ang taong bayan sa kanila,” referring to outgoing Vice President Robredo and Senator Pangilinan.
“Nakita nyo ba yung statements nila, nakakahiya, tuloy tuloy ang pakikipagsabwatan (nila). Hindi ito about politics dahil wala na, talo na sila, pinakikita dito na kahit ang CPP ay nakikipagsabwatan sila,” Badoy said.
She added that based on the revelations made by Garcia and Sibayan, the people should be informed of the truth, that the Tinang incident was actually instigated by urban operatives of the CPP-NPA-NDF, and not just a dispute with the cooperative.
Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales, Acting NTF-ELCAC Spokesperson on Legal Affairs, on the other hand, warned the youth not to be used by the CTGs for their propaganda. He pointed out that in truth, the CTGs were the ones who started the incident, then they will use that same incident to ask for funding from abroad. This has been the same modus operandi that they have been using since the 70s to the detriment of the country.
PNP WELCOMES CHR PROBE ON INCIDENT
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 3 has welcomed the filing of complaints with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against any of their personnel involved in the arrest of individuals behind the “Bungkalan” mobilization in Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac.
PNP-PRO3 Director, Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, said the June 10 incident in Tinang initially netted 91 individuals including five foreigners and four minors who were eventually released, leaving 82 offenders on charges of 'malicious mischiefs' and illegal assembly. All those charged were also released on bail.
Baccay said the detention of the 82 individuals was “in accordance with the law and with the utmost respect for human rights.”
"We have done only our duty… I will stand by my men to answer the charges filed against us," Baccay said.
The official was referring to charges filed before the CHR over allegations of abuse in the arrest and detention, and the delay in the release of the offenders.
"My advice to them (who filed the charges at CHR), make your allegations credible. This is what happens when you take the law into your own hands," Baccay pointed out.
NTF-ELCAC Media Bureau