Is this for real?
Several Dumaguete businessmen have asked the police and the military to determine the authenticity of anonymous text messages asking for money, allegedly for the hospitalization of a “comrade who is undergoing treatment at a hospital” in the country.
One of those who received the text message, Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, said the text message, purportedly coming from someone in the underground movement, also appears to be a simple request.
“This ‘comrade,’ who had been in the underground movement for over 30 years, is in the hospital and needs money, but the text message added that it is up to the recipients to honor the request or not,” he said.
Sagarbarria says it is possible that the text message may also come from someone who just wants to take advantage of the 45th anniversary of the Communist New People’s Army on March 29. He, however, directed the city chief of police to investigate the case.
Sagarbarria brought up the matter of the text message during the visit of some officials of the Philippine Army Central Command during the meeting of the 3rd Visayas Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council.
Brig Gen. Romeo Labador, AFP deputy commander, said he was inclined to believe that the text messages were the work of the NPA.
The AFP is more than ready to quell any attempt by the rebel movement to retaliate, after the arrest in Cebu of their two leaders, couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon Saturday, who have long been wanted for murder and frustrated murder charges, Labador said.
He said the AFP intelligence community has already noted the mayor’s report, and said the NPA would want their presence felt during their anniversary. (PNA)
