Bais mayor says
People’s service is best defense versus Sparrow Units’ attacks
By Ed Sestoso
BAIS CITY , Negros Oriental- The local chief executive here had his own way of combating fears on the revival of the Sparrow Units of the underground New People’s Army in Negros Oriental contrary to the traditional approach of military and some local officials.
Mayor Hector “Tata” Villanueva said that the best weapon against the threats of the Sparrow Units is to render good public service and good relationship with the consrtituency in your area.
The mayor issued the statement a day after trop officials of the 11th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army stationed in Silay City in Negros Occidental and has a company situated in Guihulngan City with a little bit distant from this city bared that alleged Cebu trained members of the NPA’s urban hit squad Sparrow Units are on a test mission in the province.
It was Lt. Col. Franco Gacal, commanding officer of yhe 11th Infantry Batallion who said that they got the information from the intelligience bureau of the Philippine Army.
The New People’s Army (NPA) is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines .
Gacal added that the Sparrows easy targets are so called soft targets like law enforcers and government personnel who are caught off guard.
Mayor Villanueva however said that the public should not be complacent if ever the Sparrows are now in this city.
The mayor said that while he does not agree the way the NPA’s Sparrow Units liquidating its targets, but he admitted that most of those who are killed were also abusive local officials and law enforcers.
“Kining ilang gipangsulayan kana pong mga buluyagon, bisan wala kita mahiuyon sa ilang gihimo” stressed the mayor in the same interview.
The mayor said that if a local official is sincerely doing his job of good public service and is not abusive, then there’s nothing to fear even from the Sparrow Units.
“Basta gabuhat lang ko alang sa kaayuhan sa katawhan ug ang akong gigama nga mga desisyon para sa tanan unsa pa may akong kahadlukan?” added the mayor.
He said that a local official will be at the risk or having fear of being liquidated by the Sparrows if he or she makes a decision for the benefit of the few and sacrificing the majority of each constituency.
“Ang kahadlukan nato kung gagama ta ug desisyon ug para lang sa pila ka tawo ug ang nag antus mao ang kadaghanan sa katawhan, mao nay peligro ta diha” added Mayor Villanueva.
The mayor said that this city’s peace and order is very much manageable and that there are no threats coming from several armed groups including the New Peoples Army (NPA).
“Dili man sa paghinambog ning ako, bisan sa kabukiran ning dakbayan, peaceful man ta” the mayor said.
The Bais mayor’s statement also came several days after the Dumaguete City police chief does not believe also that members of a sparrow unit, the urban hit group of the New People's Army (NPA) inhabits the city.
"Amo pa nang tinuon pag-ayo kung tinuod ba nang ilang giingon nga presensiya sa mga sparrow units diri sa Dumaguete (We will investigate the so-called presence of sparrow units in the city)," stressed Cabanag, as he expressed doubts on the veracity of the intelligence report believed to have come from the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The same intelligence report also had the provincial police office ordering stations in the whole province to tighten security.
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Sat May 10, 2008 2:47 am