Justify red labeling,
Quebrar told

Acting Bacolod City police director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, is being asked by a group to prepare documents justifying the red-labeling of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros as umbrella organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army.

Bayan-Negros secretary general Felipe Levy Gelle said in a press release, copies of which were furnished the DAILY STAR yesterday, they will meet with Quebrar at the Bacolod City hall at 3 p.m. today. Quebrar, meanwhile, said he has no comment on the issue.

Gelle said Bayan-Negros was referred to as "umbrella organization of CPP-NPA" in the Internal Security Operation Plan submitted by the BCPO to the city hall last month.

He said the police seemed to engage in a campaign to annihilate militant and progressive leaders in the context of "anti-insurgency operations".

He said Bayan vowed to oppose the request for the funding of the Internal Security Operation Plan proposed by the police.

Quebrar had earlier requested for a P16.2 million budget from the Sangguniang Panglungsod for the proposed ISO order to address the problems of insurgency, terrorism and other serious threats to the City.*DMG

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Campaign security assured

Brig. Gen. Gregorio Fajardo, commanding general of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, yesterday said candidates in the May 14 elections who will campaign in areas in Negros claimed as their territories by insurgents, need not be afraid to do so.

" We will clear the area for them by doing patrols," Fajardo said, regardless of the political affiliations of the candidates.

He also reiterated his request for candidates not to accede to what he calls "extortion demands" of the New People's Army, referring to permit-to-campaign-fees.

"If they are afraid to campaign in the hinterland areas being frequented by rebels (they must) just coordinate with us," Fajardo said.

The police said 72 of the 600 barangays in Negros Occidental are insurgency-affected areas. Lt. Col. Norman Flores, 61st Infantry Battalion, said he expects the CPP-NPA to demand campaign fees from politicians in southern Negros as soon as the campaign period started next month.*GPB

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