Army won’t identify labor leader, but says he proves link between unions, NPA

LUCENA CITY – The military claimed on Thursday (March 12) finding what Army officers said was yet another link between leftwing labor groups and communist rebels operating underground.

Capt. Jayrald Ternio, public affairs office chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said a leftist labor organizer had surrendered to the military, confessing his membership in New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The labor leader, Ternio said in a press release, confessed to being with the NPA and surrendered two guns—a .48 caliber and a shotgun—to government forces in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna province on Wednesday (March 11).

Ternio quoted the labor leader, who was not identified, as saying that some unions in Southern Tagalog had been infiltrated by NPA “with the intention of sowing and exploiting alleged labor issues.”

Ternio said the labor leader’s identity is being kept secret as a security measure.

Col. Alex Rillera, head of the Army’s 202nd Infantry Brigade, said the labor leader’s surrender showed “another link” between some labor groups and NPA.

Rillera said the military was expecting more rebels to surrender after it received “feelers” from several labor leaders.

Edited by TSB