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The
presence of members of the New People's Army (NPA) is up in
at least 10 municipalities.
This
was bared by the Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade
Commander Col. Jesse Dellosa during a meeting of the Provincial
Peace and Order Council last Friday.
According
to Dellosa, the rise in rebel activities was observed starting
May, weeks before the local elections.
The
Army commander bared that the NPA is controlled by a group
led by one Paulino Lingues, alias Vergel or Brix, who is reportedly
involved in organizing the Sentro de Grabidad (Central Command).
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According
to Army intelligence, the alleged rebel leader, Lingues,
replaced Domingo Compoc, alyas Commander Cobra, to head
the communists' Front 1 operating in the interior towns.
Compoc
was reportedly demoted due to violations against fellow
NPA members, the intelligence report bared.
The
command purportedly includes the towns of Balilihan,
Catigbian, Sevilla, Sagbayan, Batuan, Carmen, Antequera,
Lila, Calape, Bilar and Baclayon.
Dellosa
previously disclosed during an interview with the Chronicle
that the NPA was actively soliciting from candidates
in the May 14 elections permits to campaign (PTC).
In fact, the Army commander bared, at least two mayoralty
bets gave in to the rebels' demands and gave contributions.
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Several
other candidates were reported by intelligence operatives
of the Army and PNP to have given PTC funds to the NPA, according
to Dellosa.
He
refused to name the candidates involved as they are filing
charges against them if they could gather enough evidence.
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