Philippines rebels make first radio broadcast

Press, 28 December 1987, Page 8

Philippines rebels make first radio broadcast

NZPA-Reuter Manila Communist rebels making their first radio broadcast to the Philippine people promised to push ahead with their revolutionary struggle. The broadcast came after suspected communist rebels shot dead two Philippine soldiers inside a provincial cafe in apparent violation of a Christmas ceasefire, the military said. Two civilians were wounded in the attack, which occurred in Bulacan province about 25 minutes before the 48hour ceasefire ended, Bulacan Constabulary Sergeant Fe Clavio said. The surprise broadcast on a previously unused FM frequency came on

the nineteenth anniversary of the founding of the outlawed Communist party.

“Push on with our struggle,” an unidentified rebel spokesman said in Tagalog, the Filipino national language. Much of the 38-minute broadcast was inaudible because of heavy static. The speaker denounced the government of President Corazon Aquino for human rights violations and assailed the military for the formation of what it called civilian anti-com-munist vigilantes. The broadcast began with the chanting of slogans such as “Down with imperialism” and ended with a singing of the Internationale. The two soldiers killed

in the gun attack were eating in the cafe when four suspected guerrillas walked in and opened fire, Sergeant Clavio said in a telephone interview.

He said investigators believed the killers were rebels because of the swiftness of the attack, a style usually associated wiith communist hitsquads called “Sparrows.” The military headquarters in Manila said it had not received any official report on the incident. “If it is confirmed that it was an NPA (New People’s Army) attack then it must be a violation,” said Navy Lieutenant Anselmo Cabingan, deputy armed forces spokesman. Mrs Aquino has ordered a halt on army offensives

on New Year’s Day. The guerrillas have not said if they would match her gesture. Twelve guerrillas and one soldier were killed in clashes around the country on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mayor Julian Bayag of Piddig town in Ilocos Norte province, and two other local politicians who had been abducted by the guerrillas on December 16 were released unharmed on Friday night, the military said on Saturday. But Daisy Raquiza, a Piddig mayoral candidate in January 18 local elections, who was kidnapped with the other three, remained in rebel captivity, the military said. It said it did not know why she had not been freed.