Reds own ambush of Pulupandan mayor-elect

The communist New People's Army (NPA) claimed responsibility Monday for the ambush on Pulupandan mayor-elect Magdaleno Peña last May 30, even as it vowed to get him next time. In a statement on the Communist Party of the Philippines website , the NPA said its Boy Gatmaitan Command staged the ambush. "The NPA will continue and will not stop until revolutionary justice will be serve on Atty. Magdaleno Peña. If not now there is always a next time," said Ka Bayani Obrero, spokesperson of the Boy Gatmaitan Command. Obrero added an NPA team tried to serve a standing order of meting revolutionary justice against Peña. He said the revolutionary justice had been "strongly demanded by the people" because of the "grave crimes" he committed since the 1980s. The ambush wounded Peña, and killed his two armed escorts. It also wounded his protege Gerany Suatengco and two other armed escorts. Peña blamed his political rival for the incident. Obrero pointed out a long list of "crimes" of Peña, which included: * Landgrabbing of peasant lands in Brgy Inolingan, Moises Padilla thru state terrorism by the use of blue guards and the Philippine Army. * Terrorizing the masses in Pulupandan using armed goons in order to evict them from their homes, accusing them of false charges to imprison them. * Cases of grave threats, manhandling, imprisonment and murders of farm waorkers of Had. Montilla in Pulupandan in 1980, when they were organizing to protest against his repression and exploitation. * His connection to the murders of organizers and leaders of peasant and fishermen organizations and youth activists in Valladolid. Atty. Magdaleno Peña used the services of mercenaries like Enrique "Bebot" Miravalles kag Ernesto "Boy" Betia in several crimes. * Masterminded the murders of Mayor Kenny Fernandez (former mayor of Pulupandan) , Police Lt. Romeo Soralio (Former chief of Pulupandan) and many others. * Cases of illegal drug operations as financier and partner of Congressman Iggy "Jose Pidal" Arroyo. "Atty. Magdaleno Peña is a cruel warlord, bloodthirsty murderer, enemy of the people and the revolution. He is also hated by his family, hacienderos and warlords like his kind," Obrero said. He added that because of his money and influence, he is an untouchable and has the support and protection of corrupt government officials. - GMANews.TV