Army officer laughs off NPA psywar yarn

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The chief of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade laughed off claims of the New People’s Army’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (NPA- AGC) that the P87-million peace and order budget of the Negros Occidental provincial government will be used for intelligence and psychological warfare (psywar) operations.

Col. Inocencio Pasaporte issued the statement in reaction to the statement of NPA-AGC spokesman Ka Juanito Magbanua.

On Feb 11, the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) approved an P87-million budget for its projects, programs and activities in Negros Occidental while also allocating another P26.1 million for intelligence fund.

Pasaporte told reporters here that Magbanua is just trying to discredit the provincial government

“We find it funny why he is questioning that maybe it’s because he wants to have some but kidding aside the funds will be utilized to help former rebels reestablished themselves in society,” Pasaporte said.

He added that the money will be used by the provincial government for programs and activities that alleviate the living conditions of the people, especially in the countryside.

Pasaporte also denied claims of Magbanua that the funds will be also be used for the implementation of Executive Order 70 or whole-of-nation approach and the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).

Magbanua said people’s money is used to militarize the services of the local government, which is a civilian agency, to destroy the revolutionary movement.

Pasaporte said that the RCSP is the initiative of the LGUs in bringing services to its constituents.

Meanwhile Pasaporte believed that the NPA can no longer recover its lost grounds.

He said the military has attained 80 percent of its target as far as the peace and security operations is concerned.