Army commander relieved from post after twin attacks in Bukidnon

From GMANews (Feb 24): Army commander relieved from post after twin attacks in Bukidnon

A Philippine Army brigade commander has been relieved from his post following last week’s attacks on two farms in Bukidnon by communist rebels, a military spokesperson said Sunday.

Colonel James Jacob, commander of the Army’s 403rd Brigade, was removed from his post while the military is conducting its probe on the attacks, Army 4th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio Osias IV said.

Osias said the military wants Jacob to be “readily available” during the probe, which will be headed by Col. Ferdinand Quidilla.

On Tuesday, a security guard was killed and two others were injured after the New People’s Army attacked the Del Monte Philippines and Dole Philippines agro-industrial farms in Bukidnon.

The military described the twin attacks as “a clear and deliberate violation” of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Osias said the military probe will determine possible lapses which may have led to the attacks.

“That is the standard operating procedure. Whenever there are big incidents such as this, due to command responsibility, there will be a board of inquiry,” he said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/296453/news/regions/army-commander-relieved-from-post-after-twin-attacks-in-bukidnon