OFFICIAL WANTS DEEPER PROBE

AFP, PNP slammed for
growing rebel strength

A member of the Compostela Valley province Provincial Board last week scored the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for the growing strength of rebel movement that has prompted a municipality to declare two barangays under a state of calamity.
The verbal blast of Board Member Neri Barte in the Wednesday session of the Board was sparked by a resolution of the municipal council of Compostela to utilize disaster funds for hundreds of families who evacuated in masse following clashes between rebels and soldiers.
The resolution aims to allow the municipality to release disaster funds to assist the evacuees.
But Barte said declaring a state of calamity in barangays Bermuda and Magayon was a form of surrender to the rebel movement and an admission that the military and police could not stave off the rebels’ growing strength in the province.
He cited reports by military and police that 97 barangays in Compostela Valley are now under heavy influence of the New People’s Army.
This is calamitous! Are we saying that we are now surrendering to the rebels? What are the military and police doing? Barte said who also questioned disaster funds being used for man-made disasters like assistance to victims fleeing rebel-military clashes.
The Board however confirmed the resolution supported by Board Member Josielyn Romano, who said the declaration had been backed by the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office.
Board member Arvin Dexter Lopoz also backed the confirmation saying a Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) joint memorandum had revised rules on declaration of state of calamity that now allows assistance to victims of terrorism, insurgency and other criminal acts.