(Sgd.) Ka ARIS FRANCISCO
Spokesperson, NPA Comval-North Davao-South Agusan Subregional Command
Red fighters belonging to the New People’s Army Comval-North Davao-South Agusan Subregional Command raided the mining company owned by warlord Monkayo Mayor Joselito Brillantes Jr. and a military detachment on 14 April 2015 at 10:30pm in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, confiscating 74 high powered and short firearms.
Seized from the mayor’s goons and paramilitary forces were three M60 machine gun, seven M14 rifles, 13 M16 rifles, nine M1 Garand caliber .30 rifles, three baby M16 rifles, one Carbine rifle, two Bushmaster rifles, one Ultimax light macinegun, one M203 rifle, one RPG launcher, one Galil rifle, one AK 200, 11 shotgun rifles, two 9mm pistols, eight .45 caliber pistols, one .38 caliber pistol, and nine KG rifles. Also confiscated during the successful tactical offensive were 14,000 rounds of assorted ammunition, military vests and radios.
The NPA punished Mayor Brillantes for his overt participation in the commission of various crimes against the people in the furtherance of his economic and political interests in Monkayo. Mayor Brillantes has committed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law for building and maintaining a private armed group in pursuit of mining interests, and in conjunction with the larger armed counterrevolutionary program of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. His private armed group was organized in collaboration with the regular, intelligence and paramilitary forces of the 25th Infantry Battalion under the 10th Infantry Division – Eastern Mindanao Command (Armed Forces of the Philippines).
Brillantes’ private armed group functions as a security unit for his mining business and is responsible for harassing and perpetuating a reign of terror in the area. Several persons, including ordinary farmers and residents who enter his mining compound, went missing as they were suspected of being victims of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by Mayor Brillantes’ goons. His workers have not received wages for several months now, and have not been receiving social benefits, medical assistance, and other forms of remuneration.
Tuesday’s attack against Mayor Brillantes should serve as a stern warning against other warlord-politicians who deviate from civilian functions and use militarism to advance mining interest and economic gain. This should also serve as a lesson against GRP officials who continue to participate, support and finance the US-Aquino regime’s counter-revolutionary program and anti-people Oplan Bayanihan (fascist counter-revolutionary program).