NPA ransacks village in Pantukan
A FIREFIGHT erupted on December 23, 2017 between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government forces following reports of the terrorist group occupying a community in Barangay Las Arenas in Pantukan and ransacking a house in preparation for their 49th founding anniversary.
Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division (ID) Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) chief Captain Jerry Lamosao said in a statement that the move manifests the organization's disrespect to human rights.
Lamosao said on December 23, 2017 at around 11 p.m. before Christmas Eve, the 66th Infantry Battalion (IB) received reports that the terrorists ransacked houses and took over the whole Purok of Mabugnao, Barangay Las Arenas, Pantukan. The group causing trouble was a member of the Guerilla Front 18 and Pulang Bagani Company 6.
Thus, the military unit launched a focused military operation against the terrorists group.
At around 2 p.m. on Thursday, the 66th IB troopers encountered one of the three groups of NPA terrorists occupying the Purok.
"Ater seven minutes of armed clashes, all of them scampered to escape carting away with them everything that they can make use of from a simple knife, livestock, old cooking equipment. Basically, everything from the poor people of Sitio Mabugnao, Barangay Las Arenas, Pantukan," Lamosao said.
The fleeing rebels left their tents and some personal belongings. There’s no reported casualty on the side of the government forces while undetermined casualty on the enemy side based on the bloodstains seen in the encounter site.
Government troops are now in active defense mode to protect the communities for possible atrocities to be perpetrated by the NPA after its higher command directed them to "intensify guerrilla warfare throughout the whole archipelago and launch tactical offensives against units of the AFP, PNP, and attached paramilitaries.”
Lieutenant Colonel Palmer M. Parungao, Commander of the 66th IB, condemned the recent attack of the reds to the communities.
"The NPA terrorists don’t have anything to celebrate about. Many of them don’t even know what an ideology is. We strongly condemn their wrongdoings which greatly affect the lives of our countrymen in the hinter lands,” he said.
"With a truce, President Duterte aimed for a moment of peace, these terrorist don’t believed in it, if so, the 66th IB will deal with them accordingly, we will strongly protect the peace,” Parungao added.
Major General Noel S. Clement, Commander 10ID, likewise slammed the NPA for continuing their operation on the heels of temporary ceasefire and yuletide season.
“We condemn their acts of terror. Taking over a community just to desperately celebrate their founding anniversary is a grave violation of human rights. Despite the Yuletide season, they continue to harass communities which prompted our forces to conduct FMO," Clement said.
He further urged the rebels to lay down their arms and seek a reformed life to help in the nation building and be with their families.