HIMAMAYLAN CITY - The Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy, a group of former communist rebel leaders, yesterday warned about the possible increase in numbers of what it calls "leftist solons" in Congress.

Anti-communist group leader Jun Alcover, ANAD chairman, said the House of Representatives has 12 partylist members whom he had linked to Maoist, Euro communist and Marxist-Leninist groups.

Speaking at a peace rally here, that was attended by hundreds of Himamaylan residents, Alcover claimed that a portion of the P60 million "pork barrel" received by each 12 leftist solons annually, was also being used to destabilize the government.

Alcover, who survived three ambushes allegedly perpetrated by the New People's Army since 1988, said the CPP-NPA has succeeded in crippling the Philippine economy, as a result of 37 years of people's protracted war it has waged since 1969.

Five militant party-list lawmakers who are facing arrest for alleged rebellion have been holed up for more than a month at the House of Representatives, while another of their colleague is now detained at Camp Crame for similar charges.

Alcover said the CPP-NPA has already penetrated almost all sectors of society, including the church and even the military, in its aim of taking over the Philippines by 2010.

They have already established their presence in Congress and expect to expand their membership, he added.

"If that happens, I'm afraid the country will become another Vietnam," Alcover, who claimed to be a contemporary of former top CPP-NPA leaders Arturo Tabara, Romulo Kintanar and Hector Mabilangan, said.

The CPP central committee said in a statement that it has ordered the New People's Army to intensify its tactical offensives against government forces all over the country.

Alcover also expressed dismay over the attitude of some local government executives of not helping the military in addressing the insurgency problem.

The government is practically sinking because we have adopted the wrong solution to the insurgency problem, he added.

Alcover has reiterated his appeal to politicians and local government executives to do something about the problem through information dissemination and education campaign, and delivery of much-needed basic services to the people in far-flung areas.

He also called on the people to be cautious in joining organizations, especially the front ones of the CPP-NPA.

"It is easy to become a communist but the hardest thing to do is getting out," Alcover said, citing the summary executions of Tabara, Kintanar and Mabilangan, among others.

"They should learn from us. We've been there," he added.*GPB

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