3rd Infantry condemns NPA rebels for shooting up soldiers escorting civilian medical team

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 18): 3rd Infantry condemns NPA rebels for shooting up soldiers escorting civilian medical team

The Capiz-based 3rd Infantry Division condemned on Friday the New People's Army (NPA) rebels for firing on a group of soldiers securing a civilian medical team in Barangay Mayang, Tubungan town, Iloilo Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Col. Aldwine Almase, 82nd Infantry Battalion commander, one of the field units of the 3rd Infantry Division, said that his troops were securing the convoy of a medical team from the 301st Brigade and civilian volunteers from Operation Blessing (an international humanitarian organization) who came from a medical and dental mission in Leon, Iloilo when the shooting incident occurred at around 3:45 p.m.

The soldiers retaliated and a 10-minute firefight ensued, which resulted in the death of an NPA fighter and recovery of a 12-gauge shotgun with live ammunition.

Blood stains were seen along the withdrawal route of the rebels who were believed to be members of the Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyonal-Panay.

There was no casualty from the government troops.

Major Ray Tiongson, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said that this latest atrocity violates the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHIHL).

Members of the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives conducted investigation in the scene of encounter and to identify the casualty.

“We join the local government officials, civil society organizations, and the peace-loving people of Panay in strongly condemning this treacherous act. We regret that despite our efforts to bring the necessary assistance to the people, the CPP-NPA answered it in a senseless way. This is a brazen disregard of the CARHIHL which the communist group is a signatory,” 3rd Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Aurelio Baladad said.

Earlier, Army personnel and Operation Blessing conducted a four-day medical and dental civic action programs (MEDCAP and DENCAP) in the villages of Tigmarabo in Miag-ao, Mantangon in Igbaras, Igdampog Sur in Tubungan and Paga in Leon, all of Iloilo, which benefited over 1,500 residents. .

The group came from Barangay Paga, Leon, which was the last phase of the MEDCAP and DENCAP prior to the incident.

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