Malaybalay workers halt rebel's advances
WORKERS of a construction company stopped an attack by the New People's Army (NPA) in barangay Cabangahan, Malaybalay city, at about 2:30 am on Thursday, June 6.
Captain Ryan Layug, civil-military officer of the 403rd Infantry Brigade said, employees of Venray construction were awakened with an unusual noise and saw their company's Bonggo truck lit by fire. The employees were able to drive away the NPA rebels, he said.
Layug said the employees doused the fire with water and fire extinguisher thus prevented it from spreading towards nearby Grader and Backhoe. Fire truck from barangay Aglayan arrived minutes later to completely stop the fire.
Perpetrators were riding on 8 motorcycles and fled southwards according to witnesses.
Brigadier General Edgardo De Leon, 403d Brigade commander condemned the attacks anew, and asked that the NPA leadership explain why the attacks on civilians.
De Leon said investigators are now focused on gathering information for the filing of appropriate case against CPP-NDF-NPA members and leaders.
De Leon said they seek to answer if the area attacked was a military camp or a civilian compound, and if the company has any direct involvement against the military, among others.
The military said the case will be filed at Commission on Human Rights and at Regional Trial Court Branch 25, the special court designated to try IHL case. De Leon also urged militant rights group Karapatan to do a parallel investigation.
Major General Nemesio Gacal, 4ID commander lauded the workers for driving away the NPA rebels.
"This is the real essense of the "whole of nation" approach in preventing the communist NPA terrorists from sowing chaos in our place. This incident proves that the local communists terrorists are no match to people who unite and resist, even if the people are unarmed", Gacal said.
Recently, a certain Pia Alonzo, who claimed to be an NPA spokesperson was quoted in claiming responsibility over the straffing of barangay Tanods in Sto. Niño, Manolo Fortich last week. They also claimed responsibility over the explosion of Anti-Personnel Mines in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon that hit a convoy carrying foreignersa.