AFP Fields More Militiamen in Northern, Central Luzon

To beef up counter-insurgency operations, the military has been recruiting militiamen known as Civilian Armed Auxiliaries (CAAs). They are being deployed in Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan and Central Luzon.

By ACE ALEGRE
Bulatlat.com

SAN JOSE, TARLAC. A part-time farmer and militiaman clutches his government-issued M14 rifle
while a child sits beside him. Photo by Artemio Dumlao

Some 10 years ago, the Philippine military declared the communist-led guerrilla movement in the Ilocos region “dead.” This week, in an apparent show of reversal, Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) chief, Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, admitted that the New People’s Army (NPA) has recovered particularly in the hinterlands of Ilocos Norte where it is reportedly in active recruitment.

To beef up counter-insurgency operations, Garcia said NOLCOM has been recruiting militiamen. But the new militiamen, known as Civilian Armed Auxiliaries (CAAs), are being deployed not only in the Ilocos provinces but also in the Cordillera, Cagayan and in Central Luzon, Garcia said.

In the northern Luzon regions, five CAA companies have been formed under the 5^th Infantry Division while the 7th Infantry Division that covers Central Luzon plains has added eight more CAA companies. "They were operational since June 15," Garcia said.

The 5th ID had previously 45 CAA companies under its command while the 7th ID had 14 CAA companies.

The new militiamen do not include the 500 men from the former renegade group, Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), who are being eyed to be integrated as paramilitary men on orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Some 264 former CPLA members are also undergoing military training at the 5th ID headquarters in Isabela province before they are inducted as regular Armed Forces members.

Garcia attributed the NPA’s recovery in the provinces under his command to the de-activation of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU) in these areas. "Nang iniwan ang mga areas, doon dumami ang influence nila (rebels)" (After they [CAFGUs] left, their [guerrillas’] influence increased).

Earlier, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes had acknowledged the government’s “growing concern” about the increasing number of NPA guerrillas in northern and central Luzon. In these regions, military records show, the NPA’s armed strength has grown by seven percent.

Globe cell site

Meanwhile, in Gattaran, Cagayan more government troops have been fielded to track down NPA guerrillas who allegedly attacked and partially burned down a cellular site.

Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Alvarado, commanding general of the 5th Infantry Division based in Gamu, Isabela revealed last week that he has increased the number of troopers pursuing guerrillas he believes are being led by a certain Ka Bobby Javier of the Eastern Cagayan based-Henry Abraham Revolutionary Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA.

Although Alvarado refused to consider Gattaran and other nearby towns as NPA turfs, he admitted that additional troops were also meant to address the insurgency threat in eastern Cagayan. "There maybe only 20 NPAs there," he said.

But Globe executives were mum on which group was behind the attack that destroyed the facility’s radio room. Jones T. Campos, company public relations head, said in a phone interview that company officials did not receive any demand letter from the NPA, said to be a standard operating procedure observed by the guerrilla army.

Campos emphasized however that Globe has no policy of paying "revolutionary taxes" to the NPA. "We normally do not give revolutionary taxes," he said.

The cellular site services the eastern Cagayan towns of Aparri, Gattaran, Sta. Ana, Gonzaga and Alcala.

A Smart telecommunications site is also located near the Globe site but apparently, only Globe was attacked.

Several months ago, NPA guerrillas also torched cellular sites in Central Luzon paralyzing the operation of Smart and Globe for days. Bulatlat.com

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