Militiaman killed as NPA allegedly 'harass' Good Friday devotees in Butuan

From InterAksyon (Mar 29): Militiaman killed as NPA allegedly 'harass' Good Friday devotees in Butuan

A militiaman was killed in what the military claimed was the harassment by New People’s Army guerrillas of Catholic devotees observing Good Friday, which also happens to fall on the 44th founding anniversary of the rebel force, in Butuan City.

1st Lieutenant Joe Patrick Martinez, commanding officer of the 4th Infantry Division’s 42nd CMO Company, said fighters of the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 21C, under the Northeastern Mindanao Committee, harassed the devotees who were conducting Stations of the Cross in Purok Iyaw, Barangay Anticala at around 5 a.m.

Policemen and soldiers joining the Holy Week rites responded and the military has rushed reinforcements to the area.

The military quoted Fr. Joesilo Amalla, parish priest of the St. Joseph Cathedral as saying: “These NPAs disrespected the solemnity of the station of the cross. They don’t know when to stop fighting. “Why do they attack us? They should submit themselves to our God and repent for their sins.”

Lieutenant Colonel Potenciano Camba. commanding officer of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, scored the rebels saying: “This is not the time and place for fighting. We were there to observe the season of Lent and to pray for peace."

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/58222/militiaman-killed-as-npa-allegedly-harass-good-friday-devotees-in-butuan