By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) slammed the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for false accusations following the clash in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City last Wednesday, November 30, which killed two rebels.
In a statement, the 3ID slammed Ka Bayani Obrero, the NPA’s spokesperson in Negros, after he claimed that one of the rebels, later identified as Ericson Acosta, was “captured and later executed” along with his companion.
The 3ID said it is an undeniable fact that Acosta and his comrades opened fire at the Army, and it was unfortunate that they were neutralized in the gun battle.
The Army also belied the claims made by the National Democratic Front (NDF) that Acosta was a “consultant” of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social Economic Reforms (CASER).
CASER is non-existent as the Philippine government is not engaged in any form of peace talks with the NDF and the NPA, nor does the government intend to negotiate in the future, the 3ID said.
They also accused the NPA of using a propaganda ploy to fuel a deceptive narrative.
“As far as this government is concerned, the CPP-NDF-NPA is a terrorist organization along with their members who espouse the ideology of violence, extortion and dual tactics to overthrow the government,” the 3ID said.
“The only policy of this government is the unconditional surrender of all members of the CPP-NDF-NPA under the localized peace engagements within the framework,” it added.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement given by Capt. Mervin Rosal of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, Acosta is a 43-year-old native of Albay’s Ligao City.
Acosta, who also goes by the alias of “Raffy,” was the head of the NPA’s Political Unified Committee, and deputy secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.
Rosal also identified Acosta as the husband of NPA leader, Kerima Tariman, who was killed in a gun battle last year in the province’s Silay City.
Acosta assumed the first deputy secretary after the arrest of NPA’s regional leader Ramon Patriarca.
He and his wife moved to Negros in 2018 to oversee the NPA’s Regional Party Committee after internal squabbles developed within the local NPA’s organization due to its dwindling political cadres.
Rosal said Acosta is responsible for several atrocities, including the ambush against police officers in Binalbagan town earlier this year.
Acosta is the second high-ranking NPA leader to be neutralized in Negros following the death of their leader, Romeo “Juanito Magbanua” Nanta, in Himamaylan City in October./DGB, WDJ