NPA present in 12 Cotabato villages - PNP

Police in Cotabato province have confirmed the presence of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in at least 12 villages in Kidapawan City, online newspaper MindaNews (mindanews.com) said Friday. The paper said Inspector Benjamin Mauricio, chief of the Kidapawan PNP Intelligence Division, made the disclosure during a regular session of the city council last Monday. "We are still in the process of identifying these groups. Our intelligence operatives are still doing in-depth investigations," Mauricio told members of the council. Malacañang earlier said the government should now set its sights on eradicating the NPA, after the military killed two key leaders of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group. The military claims the NPA is now active in the election period, and warned candidates against giving protection money to the rebels in their campaign sorties. City Councilor Jonares John Amador, chairman of the committee on peace and order, has ordered the local PNP to closely monitor the villages said to be infiltrated by the NPA. Amador also urged the head of the Barangay Chairmen Association to meet his members as soon as possible to discuss the NPA threat. "Let us not be complacent with regards to this matter. I hope that our police could do something to safeguard our constituents living in these places," Amador appealed. Mauricio said six villages in the northwestern part of the city, particularly in the boundary of Kidapawan-Makilala-Mlang, have been infiltrated by the NPA. At least six other villages are in the southeastern portion or along the boundary of Kidapawan-Magpet-President Roxas. He identified the "NPA-infested" villages as Junction, Kalaisan, Fatima, Macebolig, Sumbac, Amacion, Balabag, Perez, Manongol, Linangkob, Sto. Niño and Gayola. Mauricio said police monitored the presence of the NPA in these areas as early as November last year. Intelligence reports showed the NPA allegedly convinced former supporters to again support the revolutionary movement. The reports also indicated the presence of two top NPA leaders in the area, identified as Commander Tao-tao of Front 74 and Commander Ibyong of Front 71. The local PNP has already tapped the Civilian Volunteers Organization (CVO) and the village police auxiliary to help in maintaining peace and order, particularly in the 12 villages. - GMANews.TV