Communist Rebel Attacks Linked to "Ako Bikol" Win – Army Report

NAGA CITY (24 May) - LAST WEEK'S burning of two heavy-duty motor graders owned by the Sunwest Development Corporation, a big-time Construction firm in Bicol is being linked in an army report to the victory of "AKO BICOL" or "AKB," a Bikol-based partylist group, whose main supporter is known Bikolano Contractor, Zaldy Co, the reported owner of Sunwest Construction firm.

In a report by 22^nd Infantry Battalion, PA, Commander, Col. Leoncio Cirunay to the 9^th Infantry Division at Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur, intelligence reports gathered in the field revealed that communist rebels have razed the equipment of Sunwest firm, "simply because it is owned by Zaldy Co, a businessman, who is identified with 'Ako Bicol' partylist."

According to Cirunay, with the "AKB" dominating the polls for partylist groups, the NPA rebels blamed it for the sudden decline of supporters in Bicol who did not vote for the partylist organizations which were campaigned for by the NPA rebels in the region.

It was also reported by 42^nd Inf. Battalion commander Lt. Col. Ernesto Cruz that after the rebels torched the construction equipment of Sunwest at Sto. Niño, Bula, Camarines Sur last May 20, two off-duty CAFGUs were also abducted near the vicinity of the contractor's equipment site.

Cruz reported that soldiers of the 42^nd IB have found the remains of the abducted CAFGUs, identified as Edwin Belando, 47 and Stanly Portugues, 36, after being tipped-off by a barangay official in Barangay Taisan in Bula town.

Reportedly, the soldiers found the dead CAFGUs with traces of torture and bullet shots on the head at close range. (SONNY SALES)