Army official sacked

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jun 25): Army official sacked

The death of five Army soldiers in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army rebels last month in Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City, led to the relief of an Army commander in southern Negros, a military report said yesterday.

Lt. Col. Enriqueto Deocadez was replaced by Lt. Col. Ariel Reyes as head of the command of 47th Infantry Battalion.

Deocadez is now assigned with the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations of the 3rd Infantry Division in Jamindan, Capiz, Maj. Rey Tiongson, local Army spokesman, said yesterday.

The NPA rebels had taken four M-16 assault rifles, an M-14 rifle and a K3 Squad Automatic Weapon light machine gun from the slain soldiers, military records also showed.

A night before the encounter, rebels had burned two bunk houses of Philex Mining Corporation, a Kubota tractor with drilling machine and one generator set, a computer set, ICOM radio and personal belongings on May 5 in Sitio Umas, Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City.

The soldiers were responding to the arson incident when the encounter took place.
The destruction of Philex mining properties by suspected communist rebels has been taking place since 2008, military said. This prompted the mining company to suspend its exploration activities.

Rochele Hilario, Philex marketing and communications officer, said in an interview with the Philippine National Agency, that only exploration and drilling activities were temporarily suspended, while work on environmental care and maintenance will continue.

Sipalay Mayor Oscar Montilla had earlier expressed concern about unemployment because of the temporary mine closure.

Hilario said they were concerned over the safety of their geologists after the NPA rebels attacked the Bulog mine site last May 3.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines recently condemned the recent NPA atrocities against the Philex Mining project in Sipalay and in other mine sites.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/June/25/topstory7.htm