GUERRILLA RESURGENCE ALARMS PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT
(The following has been reproduced from the February 15 issue of Laging Una, published in Los Angeles, California. ]
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Alarm of the Philippine government at ‘the resurgence of the Huk movement was translated Feb. 14 into well-publicized offers of large cash bounties for the capture, dead or alive,..of the top two rebel leaders. A reward of $25,000 was posted for secretary general Pedro Taruc and $20, 000 for Faustino del Mundo, known in the rebel | ranks as Commander Sumulong.
The offer of rewards was announced by the new defense secretary, Gen. Ernesto S. Mata, who was appointed to that post by President Marcos Jan. 23. Marcos~had kept the defense portfolio for a year following his election to the presidency. Mata had been chief of staff of the armed forces.
Huk resurgence is a fact; and ari alarming fact, according to Brig. Gen. Rafael M. Ileto, commander of the Philippine Constabulary in Zone 1, which includes most of thearea of central Iuzon, long-time stronghold of the Huks.
Tleto madé the revelation Jan. 28 in a briefing session for the Pc chief, Brig. Gen. Manuel 1. Yan, at ‘Camp Olivas, Pampanga. He said that of the 16 provinces © in ‘his jurisdiction, four are under virtual Huk control.
He identified the four provinces as “Pampanga, “Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. At the same time, he asserted the Huks had extended their operations to the provinces of Bataan and Isabela.
. As an illustration of Huk influence, Ileto said: "No politician in Pampanga can run.for an elective position without first consulting or actually getting the blessing of the Huks.
In a speech Jan. 14, President Marcos demanded that the Huks surrender. "Otherwise," he said, "I must continue the angry dialogue of guns."
{A rise in guerrilla activities in the Philippines was first noted last fall. See World Outlook October 7, 1966, p. 31.]