Villagers blamed rebels who conducted two offensives to army troopers

The people of Diteki listening to their Brgy. Officials.

DITEKI, San Luis, Aurora, August 16, 2011-The local officials together with the hundreds of villagers gathered in Diteki basketball court blaming the two tactical offensives conducted by the rebels against the 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion, Philippine Army Tuesday afternoon.

Barangay Captain Maria Fe Rios said that she denounced the harassment and ambush conducted by the rebels to the army troopers in her barangay, lamenting that the whole villagers are now affected and worried for their safety.

Rios called the attention of Domingo Erlano Command (DEC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) and requested to stop their plan of combat operation with the army after she received information that another tactical offensive will be conducted by the rebels anytime. “After twenty-one (21) years, it happened again in my peaceful barangay,” she said.

“We want the army to stay here because they help us in the development of the barangay. Kasama namin ang army sa mga proyekto dito sa Barangay. Rebels should be out and if they are here, I urged them not to stay here for peaceful means,” Rios said.

At stage, the brgy. officials of Diteki.

Rios added that the rebel returnees (RR) here seemed to be not true to their pledge due to some informations that these RR were reported getting in touch with the guerillas.

Barangay Councilor Paleiro “Pale” Magno, married, 43 years old said that the statement of Domingo Erlano Command was not true. “No one was killed in action in the army and neither was there any casualty in the government side,” Magno said, saying that Ka Rowena Servante, spokesman of the NPA statement was a total lie.

Angelina Marigmen revealing  the recruiters of NPA
in front of Diteki villagers.

Angelina Marigmen of Purok 1 here revealed that there were forty (40) active rebels in the barangay, most of them were students from Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT). She said that these rebels were recruited by a certain Mayeth Corpuz and Regino Sindac.

“I am ready to die anytime because of this revelation. The duo continued recruiting our fellow villagers here. Bullshit, particularly the one who said that I am an NPA. I am not afraid even they abduct me,” she said.

Erlinda Sudario, of legal age said that her son Lee Sudario, Alias Ka Lee was a member for almost 3 years operating here in Aurora since Lee decided to join the armed revolution last September 2, 2008.

“We did not see each other anymore since my son joined the rebels and if I will be given the chance to see Lee, I will do my best to convince him to return in the fold of the law in order to have a peaceful life,” Sudario cried out, lamenting that she doesn’t know what to do (Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko).

“I miss my son very much that’s why I always pray for him. I want him to be with me, I’m old and he should turn his back to armed revolution,” she said.

LTC Kurt Decapia speaking in front of Diteki villagers.

LTC Kurt Decapia lauded the villagers of Diteki for supporting his soldiers. He said that the army are here to serve the masses. He promised that he will not allow any terrorist act in the entire province.

Decapia revealed that prior to the two (2) tactical offensives by the rebels, they already know the plan of the NPA due to the early reports from the former rebels in Diteki that the guerilla will conduct offensive during that night and the following day.

“The rebels were surprised because our soldiers were already in a position waiting for their attack and that’s the reason why they failed. This manifested that the people of Aurora do not want their ideology anymore,” Decapia said.

It could be remembered that last Friday at around 11:20 to 12:30 in the evening, more or less ten (10) rebels harassed the army detachment. At around 9:10 in the morning Saturday, two (2) NPA put detonated explosives along the highway near the bridge of Diteki while on their way back towards the battalion headquarters. Only one detonated explosives blasted. There was no reported casualty in the government side. (Jason de Asis)