AFP checking if communist spokesman is still alive or already dead

By Ronron
October 16, 2007

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is exerting efforts to verify rumors that Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal is already dead.

As of yesterday, the AFP said it has no confirmed reports about the death of Rosal as some raw reports say.

“There are reports coming out and I just got in touch with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and as of now, they have not gotten any report confirming the said report,” Bacarro told reporters on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo.

“So right now, ISAFP and other intelligence units are trying to validate the report,” he added.

Bacarro said the AFP has heard of the rumor from locals of Bicol.

He acknowledged that Rosal’s silence from the broadcast media “could be an indicator” of his death, although it is not conclusive. Over the last few months, Rosal has only been issuing statements to the public through e-mail statements.

Bacarro, however, belittled Rosal’s significance to the communist movement, saying his death, if indeed true, will only mean “one man less” for the CPP.

“Ka Roger is not a tactical (person). He did not rise in prominence because of his tactical exploits. Basically, he came out as their spokesperson, as their propagandist. But relative to direct combat operations, I think it (his death) will have no impact,” Bacarro said.

Nonetheless, he said it is important for the AFP to confirm his death “for the purpose of knowing and for the purpose of informing the public.”/DMS