Military not hiding casualty numbers

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 28): Military not hiding casualty numbers

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here debunked claims by the New People’s Army (NPA) that the military sustained casualties in a recent clash between the 69th Infantry Battalion and communist insurgents in the districts of Paquibato, Calinan and Malabog.

“The AFP has  no reason to hide its casualties, if ever there are, to the public,” asserted Army Captain Ernest Carolina of the information office of the 10th Infantry Division of the AFP in Southern Mindanao.

Carolina was reacting to a Sept. 26 statement made by Leoncio Pitao, popularly known as Kumander Parago and spokesperson of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion, claiming gains on the series of military actions they launched against the Army in the areas of Davao City.

Parago said that military offensives on September 24, 23, 20, 9 and 3 had inflicted casualties and damage to properties on the side of the 69th Infantry Battalion in the districts of Paquibato, Calinan and Malabog.

He alleged that four soldiers were killed when their military vehicle hit a command-detonated explosive while two others were taken out by NPA snipers.

Parago said the military had concealed this to prevent demoralization among its soldiers.

Parago added that last September 3, the NPAs were able to confiscate 8 military vests, pack bags and ammunitions from an unguarded 69th IB detachment in Kilometer 5, Barangay Mapula here.

But Carolina belied all these.

“We are the legitimate Army of the people, hindi namin pwedeng itago ang sinapit ng mga kasama namin sa kanilang mga pamilya at kamag-anak (We cannot conceal the fate of our soldiers from their family and relatives)”, Carolina pointed out.

He added that the sacrifices and heroism of soldiers who had fallen during clashes, including those wounded are recognized by the leadership of the AFP, the reason why there is no truth to the allegations of concealment.

“It’s the NPAs who conceal their casualties,” Carolina stressed, adding that NPAs are notorious for not revealing the real figure of their deaths because these affect their recruitment.

“Marami ang matatakot sumama sa kanilang kilusan kung malalaman ng taong bayan na marami sa kanila ang namamatay sa labanan (A lot would be scared to join them if they learn that many of them will just die)”, he emphasized.

Carolina added that the military had been consistent in returning the bodies of slain NPA combatants to their respective families after they are left behind by comrades during battles. “But (the dead) they bring with them during their withdrawals are just buried in shallow graves in the remote hinterlands of Davao,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Davao Occidental, about 1,800 members of Civilian Volunteers Organization (CVOs) from various towns recently took their oath before Governor Claude Bautista and Lt. Col. Patricio Ruben Amata, commander of the 73rd Infantry Battalion.The mass oathtaking was facilitated in Barangay Demoloc in Malita town. In his message, Governor Bautista expressed optimism that the influence and recruitment of the NPAs in the area will weaken with the installation of the new members of the CVOs.

http://www.mb.com.ph/military-not-hiding-casualty-numbers/