CAFGU shot dead in Payo as Army proposes turnover of “manageable” barangays

From the Catanduanes Tribune (Sep 22 ): CAFGU shot dead in Payo as Army proposes turnover of “manageable” barangays

A member of the Philippine Army’s Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA) Company was killed the other Wednesday (Sept. 10) in Panganiban town when he was shot by unidentified suspects.

The shooting of CAFGU member Joseph Clopino dela Cruz, 29, based at the Viga camp of the 22nd Infantry Battalion, Echo Company, came just two days after the 83rd Infantry Battalion proposed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the turnover of “vulnerable” communities as well as peace and security operations to local government units and the Philippine National Police.

According to the report reaching the office of Catanduanes PNP provincial director Senior Superintendent Adelio Benjamin Castillo, the CAFGU member was with his two brothers to gather lumber at Kilometer 15, barangay San Miguel for the repair of their house at barangay San Miguel at 11 A.M. that day.

When Joseph moved away from his brothers to pile pieces of lumber, suddenly a gunshot was heard. His brothers rushed over and saw the militiaman bloody and with a gunshot wound on his head.

He was brought to the Viga district hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Motive for the shooting remains unknown, according to the report.

His death came after Lt. Col. Bernardo Fortez asked the provincial board to pass a resolution declaring Catanduanes as a “manageable conflict area and development-ready province”.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, he told the board, has proposed the handover of Internal Peace and Security Operations (IPSO) to LGUs before the end of September 2014.

The proposal, Fortez stated, is based on the positive results garnered by the AFP against “communist terrorists” since 2009 through the neutralization of CPP-NDF-NPA personalities, seizure of high-powered firearms and clearing of affected barangays, with left-leaning organizations no longer affecting the peace and order in the province.

From 200 members in the mid-1990’s with 150 firearms and 100 influenced barangays, the government forces have reduced the numbers to 27 communist rebels and 14 firearms, with all 100 villages cleared as of the 2nd quarter of this year, Fortez reported.

These came through 31 encounters, 24 of them government-initiated, that resulted in the seizure of 46 firearms, 13 landmines, 17 blasting caps and 10 ICOM handheld radios, as well as the death of 10 insurgents, the capture of 18 others and the surrender of 93 members.

The 83rd IB commander said the enemy has been cut down to small splinter groups unable to conduct major tactical offensives due to lack of firearms, limited resources and reduced access to local authorities due to dwindling support from the masses and the success of Barangay Intelligence Networks (BINs) and immersion strategies.

http://www.catanduanestribune.com/article/3V0R