AFP brands NPA harassment as act to gain public sympathy

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 26): AFP brands NPA harassment as act to gain public sympathy

The military believed that the latest harassment carried out allegedly by the communist rebels 5:30 am Monday, March 25 in Barangay Magangit, New Bataan, Compostela Valley was a desperate move to get the support of the residents back to the rebel movement.

Major Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commanding officer of the 10th Civil-Military Operations Battalion said the rebels only wanted to show that they are still active in the area.

He said that instead of winning public sympathy, the rebels instill fear among the residents.

Obligado said the rebels also failed to attract the attention of the soldiers despite conducting a checkpoint and firing at their positions so they set off their improvised landmine.

He said soldiers have been ordered to defend their positions first before responding to enemy movement.

Obligado said that under these circumstances soldiers must maneuver on foot and not to use the four-wheel vehicle.

“Concerned citizens reported the presence of rebels blocking and laying an improvised landmine along the road. When the troops did not immediately react to the checkpoint, they fired upon Magangit Patrol Base to force the troops to go after them. When they failed to lure in the troops, they just detonated the improvised explosive instead of retrieving it,” he said.

Obligado said the rebels put the lives of residents to danger even with their presence, by luring the soldiers into a firefight and the laying and exploding of an improvised landmine on the road used by the people.

Lt. Colonel Michael Logico, commanding officer of the 66 Infantry Battalion said the rebels positioned themselves in front of a school, the most populated area in the barangay.

He said it was the call of the soldiers not to react immediately in order not to endanger the lives of the residents.

“The safety of the populace is the primary consideration by our troops in every operation,” Logico said.

He said that though the rebels did not hold hostage, they caused fear among the innocent civilians.

Residents reported that the rebels laid an improvised landmine along the road going to Maragusan.

They also said that the rebels held a bus and ordered all passengers to alight before burning the tires of the vehicle.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381364270384