GUERRILLAS MENACE VILLAGERS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 7

GUERRILLAS MENACE VILLAGERS

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MANILA, January 6. Army troops in Pampanga Province, about 50 miles north of Manila, have been reinforced following intelligence reports that local Hukbalahap (Communist) guerrillas have marked 20 to 25 town people for liquidation. About 850 troop reinforcements have been sent to the province to bolster the strength of over 1000 Army and constabulary units scattered throughout Pampanga and nearby Tarlac and Nueva Ecija Provinces.

The Hubs have been terrorising town people and demanding “tong,” or support money, from them, an Army spokesman said.

The recent slayings of five persons, including a town mayor, in Pampanga had led officials to believe the Huks were stepping up their terrorist and liquidation activities. One of the five men killed since December 24 was a former Huk commander who was being questioned about the mayor’s death. The Defence Secretary, Mr M. Peralta, immediately ordered troop reinforcements in order to assure the local residents of their safety. He said that the troops would remain for an “indefinite” period because of fears that immediately after soldiers were pulled out, the Huks would start terrorising again.

An Army spokesman said whenever the troops were withdrawn, Huks started “harassing folks, frightening and intimidating them, and demanding tong money.” Persons marked for liquidation are sent notes with the words, “You are next,” attached to a small piece of black cloth.

Although reports showed only between 20 to 25 persons marked for liquidation, “there may be many more who are afraid to report to the authorities,” the spokesman said.