(Eagle News) — The military condemned the attack of members of the New People’s Army on a composite platoon of armed forces and other disaster relief units with non-government units who were distributing quake relief assistance in the vicinity of Sitio Huwat Baboy, Barangay Linonganan, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte on Tuesday, February 14 .
Fourth Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Benjamin Madrigal said that the platoon was the civil-military operations platoon of the 30th Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt Ryan Layug.
Madrigal said that the platoon was escorting the NGO on their way back after delivering relief goods to the quake-battered communities in Barangay Karihatag, Malimono, Surigao del Norte when an undetermined number of NPA rebels fired upon the troops at around 8:30 p.m. on February 14.
“While we are in the area helping our people to rise up again after they were badly hit by the recent earthquake, the NPA terrorists are also busy in making our people’s lives miserable,” Madrigal said.
The 4th Infantry Division (4ID) Commander strongly condemned the recent harassment of the NPA in Surigao del Norte, stressing that there is no way they could trust the rebel groups.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the recent harassment of the NPA. There is no way we can really trust these terrorists. They have deceived the entire nation when they fired upon the team that is composed of Army and civilian volunteers who have just delivered relief goods to the earthquake-stricken communities. Their (NPA) recent declaration of ceasefire in that area is nothing but lie and deception,” Madrigal said.
“The NPA’s attack will not deter us to continue our efforts in helping the LGUs to bring back the normal situation in the entire province,” the 4th Infantry Division commander stressed.
Eagle News Service
