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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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Sunday, February 5, 2017
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NEVER SAY DIE. Somewhere in the rugged hinterlands of Panay Island, New People’s Army cadres get ready for more offensives against government troops. The NPA leadership announced it was lifting its unilateral ceasefire on Feb. 10, alleging continued military atrocities across the country. PN FILE
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ILOILO City – Just hours after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted the government’s unilateral ceasefire, New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and government troops clashed in the hinterland barangay of Cabatangan in Lambunao, Iloilo.
The encounter happened around 12:05 a.m. yesterday while the Charlie Company of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (IB) was verifying reports that armed men were in the area.
Fourteen rebels suddenly fired at his 25 soldiers, according to Colonel Leonardo Peña of the 61st IB.
The rebels were believed to belong to NPA-Panay’s Central Front Committee.
“There was an exchange of gunfire. Barangay officials may have also been targeted. They were shot, too, but the rebels missed them,” said Peña.
None from the government troops was wounded.
On Friday, Duterte lifted the truce in a tit for tat with the rebels. The NPA leadership announced it was lifting its unilateral ceasefire on Feb. 10, alleging continued military atrocities across the country.
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz sent augmentation forces to Lambunao after learning of the clash.
“The rebels clearly wanted to show they’re still a force to reckon with. But the truth is they have very few members left,” said Peña.
On Feb. 1 rebels fired guns in the hinterland barangay of Boloc in Tubungan, Iloilo some 250 meters away from where Philippine Army soldiers were staying.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Vener Morga of the Philippine Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion based in town of Miag-ao, his men found five empty bullet shells of an M16 armalite rifle from where the rebels were believed to have fired their guns.
An hour after the Tubungan incident, residents of Barangay Osorio, San Remegio, Antique also heard bursts of gunfire. These were believed to have been done by the rebels, too.
The area where the rebels were believed to have fired their guns was some 500 meters away from where soldiers were staying.
‘WE WILL HIT HARD’
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said yesterday it would go hard against the rebels to prevent them from conducting atrocities and criminal activities.
“We shall abide by the President’s order of ending the unilateral ceasefire. It is unfortunate that the gains of the last six months would come to a halt because the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army) again resorted to the use of violence and choose arms to advance their interests,” said AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año.
He described the last four days as “disdainful and disturbing.”
“While Fidel Agcaoilli (National Democratic Front chief negotiator) was assuring the public thru media that their unilateral ceasefire would continue, the CPP-NPA rebels were attacking our soldiers who were doing community support and development work. This resulted to the death of 2nd Lieutenant Miguel Victor Alejo and five soldiers (mostly unarmed) and the abduction of Private First Class Erwin Salan and two other soldiers,” Año stressed.
But long before that, Año said, the NPA had killed paramilitary men and innocent civilians and burned equipment and vehicles.
“The AFP has to do its mandate of protecting the people, securing the community and taking care of our own soldiers. We will hit them hard! Be that as it may, rest assured that the AFP will continue to support the peace talks with the NDF to find a permanent peaceful solution to the four decades-long conflict. We hear the people’s clamor for peace and are willing to work hard to attain it but it is unfortunate that the CPP-NPA-NDF chooses to play deaf,” he added.
‘REGRETFUL’
Department of National Defense (DND) secretary Lorenzana, for his part, regretted the lifting of the government ceasefire due to the series of unprovoked attacks by the NPA.
“It is regretful that what was a promising start to achieving peace ended in the eruption of violence which emanated from the other party,” he said.
Lorenzana denounced the CPP-NPA’s “continued lawless activities that include extortion, abduction and attacks on government forces.”
The DND chief said he instructed Año to place all AFP units on high alert.
Having said that, we are still hopeful that there is a chance that peace will eventually prevail,” said Lorenzana. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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