Soldiers of the 58th Infantry battalion guard the road leading to one of the villages attacked a week earlier by the NPA in Gingoog City. Photographed by Erwin Mascarinas
A week after the NPA attack on a village in Gingoog City, three members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were killed by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) after an attack on an Army Patrol base in Barangay Hindangon in Gingoog City.
Reports indicated an estimated 40 NPA guerillas fighters attacked the army patrol base of the 58th Infantry battalion in one of the far-flung villages in Gingoog City.
The NPA had withdrawn after the 40-minute firefight when, around that time, three Cafgu militiamen were on their way back to the patrol base on board a motorcycle that was flagged by the retreating NPA, who apparently killed them.
Major Gen. Oscar Lactao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, questioned the sincerity of the NPA in the face of their request for a ceasefire and suspension of military operation.
"I really don't understand the stand of the NPA. They are asking for a ceasefire, they are asking for suspension of military operations, then suddenly they attack our patrol base. Then they killed three unarmed Cafgus who were on their way back to the patrol base. This is murder, since the ones they killed were not armed," said Lactao.
The NPA, in a statement released five days ago, pointed out the revolutionary group's interest in a cease-fire and suspension of military operations, and suggested that they are open to start negotiations for the safe and orderly release of the Pfc. Adonis Jess Lupeba, who was captured during the July 11, raid in Barangay Alagatan.
"How can they [NPA] be considered sincere after what they did last night? Their intentions seem to be clear: it is just purely to inflict violence ... purely criminal. We should give justice to those they have killed, and go after these criminals," Lactao said.
The remains of the victims were not recovered right away due to residual harassment action by the rebels," said Edmar Pabia, information officer of the Gingoog city government.
Mayor Marie Guingona of Gingoog City strongly condemned the latest attack.
"The people are fed up with continued harassment by the NPA. Every time there are development projects for the people, they harass the communities," she said.
"The NPA said they are for the people, but they are, in fact, indiscriminately attacking innocent civilians and wrecking havoc to thwart any development that benefits the people." Guingona added.
Guingona said she hopes to have more support from the Army and the Philippine National Police to ensure security for the city of Gingoog.
"We will definitely request additional reinforcement by our military and police to secure peace and order and the safety of the people. However, we will have to see further how things will unfold from here. We hope the situation will not get any worst, but if it does, we are prepared to act accordingly. We can see the problem, and it would be foolish not to take precautions," she said.
The mayor observed that the attacks in Gingoog followed weeks of NPA activities tending to discourage people from cooperating with the city government's P1.7 million waterworks project, "and the latest attack is obviously an effort by the NPA to forestall the multi-million Gingoog City-Malaybalay City Highway, the construction of which is on going in the said area."
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/114522/army-wonders-about-npa-peace-sincerity-after-3-more-cafgus-killed-in-gingoog
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