4ID pursuing rebels who indiscriminately fired at civilian community

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 13): 4ID pursuing rebels who indiscriminately fired at civilian community

Units from the Cagayan De Oro-based 4th Infantry Division are now pursuing the New People's Army (NPA) bandits who abducted a soldier after indiscriminately firing at Barangay Alagatan, Gingoog City killing one trooper and wounding two civilians last Saturday (July 11).

Reports forwarded Monday by 4th Infantry Division public affairs office chief Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez said that the rebel atrocity occurred at 5:30 p.m.

He said that the NPAs who fired indiscriminately are from Guerrilla Front-4B.

Martinez said the incident stemmed from Barangay Alagatan officials request for assistance regarding the presence of rebels in their community.

When troopers from the 58th Infantry Battalion, a field unit of the 4th Infantry Division, went to investigate, the NPAs fired at them, despite the presence of civilians, killing one soldier and wounding two civilians.

During the confusion, the rebels abducted one trooper and escaped 20 minutes later.

Martinez said the wounded civilians and soldier were brought to the nearest hospital.

This latest atrocity, the NPAs have violated Article 4, Section 4, Part 4 of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) when they indiscriminately opened fire inside the community and inflicted casualties on the civilians, he added.

“Civilian population and civilians shall be distinguished from combatants and, together with their property, shall not be the object of attack. They shall likewise be protected against indiscriminate strafing,”

CARHIHL was signed and agreed by GPH and NDFP in March 16, 1998 at The Hague, The Netherlands.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=782034