Troops strafed by suspected NPA rebels in Iloilo town

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 17): Troops strafed by suspected NPA rebels in Iloilo town

MIAGAO, Iloilo - A team of soldiers conducting peace and development activities were fired upon by an armed group believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Anoy, Barangay Cabalaunan here on Monday morning. The soldiers were in the area to maintain activities supporting government and civil authorities’ peace, development and humanitarian assistance programs. “While we are suspending all deliberate offensive military operations, we will continue our presence in communities to protect civilian communities, government and civilian infrastructure in order to maintain peace and security in the area,” said Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr., commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.

Mabata said the Army will continue to observe the Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO as their commitment to peace especially during the Christmas season. Communities should be given the opportunity to celebrate the yuletide peacefully. As part of our defensive security operations, troops are now conducting hot pursuit operations against the perpetrators,” said Mabanta. “The soldiers, aside from doing peace and development words were conducting defensive security patrol after receiving reports of a planned harassment by NPA rebels on a nearby Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment whose primary function is to protect nearby communities,” said Col. Arnold Quiapo, 301st Infantry Brigade Commander.

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