Militant party-list groups’ poll posters recovered in anti-NPA ops

MANILA, Philippines – Soldiers recently recovered campaign materials of two militant party-list groups following an intelligence operation against suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Palawan.

Photo courtesy of Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Command

Members of the 18th Special Forces Company and Joint Intelligence Task Group West, collectively known as Joint Task Force Peacock, conducted the intelligence operation last May 3 in Brgy. Culasian, in Rizal, Palawan, Western Command public affairs chief Cpt. Jason Ramon said in a statement on Monday.

The government troops seized from the suspected NPA rebels’ lair campaign materials of  Bayan Muna and Kabataan party-list groups, one .50 caliber sniper rifle, 16 rounds of .50 ammunition and different books espousing communist ideology.

“We are calling the attention of the Comelec to look into this matter, with the recovery of campaign posters of the Bayan Muna and Kabataan Party List Group. Likewise, we continuously urge our local stakeholders for peace to sustain the cooperation that has been established through information sharing,” Wescom commander Vice Adm. Rene Medina was quoted as saying.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the discovery of Bayan Muna and Kabataan party-list materials in an NPA site shows the possible collusion and links between the  groups.

“Ito ay indikasyon na maaring meron silang ugnayan at direktang tumatanggap ng suporta sa NPA para sa halalan,” he said in a press briefing.

The military has tagged Bayan Muna and Kabataan party-list group as front organizations of communist rebels. /gsg