The Philippine Army condemned the recent killing of a
soldier by armed rebels in Northern Samar
while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and New People’s Army (NPA)
were still on holiday ceasefire.
Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, commander of the Philippine
Army’s 8th infantry division, vehemently condemned the actions of the NPAs in Northern Samar violating the month-long truce.
“While we remain sincere in our words and actions to abide
by the provisions of the SOMO (Suspension of Military and Police Operations),
the NPA remain treacherous in their actions, taking advantage of every
opportunity to inflict casualty not only to the members of the AFP but even to
innocent civilians,” Velarmino stated.
SOMO took effect midnight of Dec. 18, 2014 and will end on
midnight of Jan. 19, 2015. The declaration of SOMO against the NPA is to
highlight the government’s sincerity in pursuing its peace initiatives,
according to the army official.
“The NPAs declared their own Yuletide ceasefire on staggered
basis, however their actions were all self-serving and is far from being an act
of good faith."
The army released the statement after an unknown number of
suspected NPA members attacked Sgt. Leo L. Loberiano in Sitio Karogyaw,
Barangay Napo, Palapag, Northern Samar .
Lt. Col. Erwin A. Alea, chief of the of the Army’s 8th
infantry division public affairs office, said the soldier was driving a
motorcycle in an outskirt when a group of heavily armed men flagged down his
vehicle at gun point around noon time on Sunday.
“The soldier realizing that the armed men were NPA rebels,
gallantly fought it out with the rebels and broke through the checkpoint.
However, he was fired upon by the rebels that caused his instantaneous death.
The NPA eventually took his pistol and bag containing his personal items,” Alea
said.
Loberiano was off duty and on his way to visit relatives in
Palapag town when he was slain by armed rebels.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=722984
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