By Media Mindanao News Service
(August 15, 1987 News Digest Volume 1, August 1987-July 1988)
SAN MIGUEL, Surigao Sur (MMNS) – Tension grips this depressed town, believed a rebel stronghold, as the military steps up its counter-insurgency psychological warfare.
Lt. Rodrigo Dispana of the army’s 58th Infantry Battalion has set August 28 as the deadline for surrender. Although the date has been moved to February 28 next year, fear still prevails among residents some of whom have received death threats because of their suspected underground connections.
Ma. Consuelo Buhay, 24, a fresh college graduate told MMNS she was informed by the 58th army troopers that her name was in the list of New People’s Army suspects. She was then on her way to Tandag, the capital town, in the morning of July 29. That afternoon, when she came back, she was again questioned.
The following day, she voluntarily went to the military camp to inquire on the allegations against her. To her surprise and consternation, she said, she was instead grilled by a rebel-returnee she identified to be one Anita Ty. Ty who claimed to have been a member of Front 19 National Democratic Front (NDF), Consuelo said, named the latter a rebel adviser.
Consuelo a resident of San Miguel poblacion, alleged that she was forced to sign a paper for surrenderees. I consented because Ty said I would be killed after the August 28 deadline if I refused, Consuelo related crying. After she had signed the document, and after pictures were taken, Consuelo added, she was told that she would not land in any job because of her NDF involvement.
Elvira Sugatan, 24, is an elementary school teacher assigned at barangay Castillo this town. She related that last August 1, she went to the 58th IB detachment to refer rumors tagging her an NDF adviser. Upon her arrival, she said, she was promptly interrogated by one Sgt. Besario on her underground connections.
Like Consuelo, after the investigations, she was coerced to sign prepared statements. Elvira said the army sergeant attached NDF after her name.
Elvira categorically denied the military accusation. The truth is I am the current adviser of the Catholic Youth Organization of the parish, Elvira said.
Several young men and women of this town have also signed surrender papers, reports said. Spearheading the campaign is the Bantay-Bayan, an anti-communist group of Nakasaka mold.
Nakasaka, the mass-based vigilante organization in Davao Sur began in February this year immediately after the collapse of the peace talks between the government and the clandestine NDF. Its two leading proponents are governor Douglas Cagas and Provincial commander Lt. Col. Jesus Magno.
The so-called rebel-returnees appeared to have taken fancy on Fr. Pastor Bangoy, a parish priest of this town. Fr. Bangoy who turned 76 last July 26 was tagged Kumander Diwata of the NPAs. One Jesus Martinez exposed that Fr. Bangoy used his car in transporting NPAs from Bolhoon to the convent. Based on Martinez’s revelations. Fr. Bangoy has been ordered August 1 to appear in the military camp for questioning.
However, ex-barangay captain Nicolas Suarez of Bolhoon where Martinez is a resident discredited the latter’s pronouncements saying he (Martinez) is a retardate who has been suffering from epilepsy since childhood.
Earlier, July 18, Allan Maturan 19, a resident of barangay Tagocdoc (Tandag) was declared missing after he was apprehended by Civilian Home Defense elements in Badong this town. Maturan was suspected as a Sparrow hitman. As of this writing, Maturan has not appeared although Lt. Diapana reportedly told Fr. Bangoy that Maturan had been released.
The threat of a full-scale military operations after the August 28 deadline has triggered massive evacuation into barangay and town centers. But the situation has only aggravated the tension apart from the prospect of going hungry.
A family-evacuee now staying in Tandag told MMNS their food supply is good until next month. This family of eight expressed apprehension in going back to their farm. Said the father:Ang among gikabalak-an kay mga surrender na man kami. Basin og dudahan mi sa taga-bukid. (Our problem is that we are now surrenderees. The NPAs might suspect us of having squealed to the military.) (Media Mindanao News Service News Digest Volume 1, August 1987-July 1988)
