The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) condemned the New
People's Army for its dastardly attack on the 20th Infantry Battalion troopers
who were engaged in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions
in Northern Samar on Tuesday, killing one
soldier and wounding three others.
HADR efforts are in behalf of typhoon "Nona"
victims in the province, said AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel
Detoyato.
Six troopers were aboard a KM-450 truck transporting repair
equipment and other materials for "Nona"-devastated communities when
they were ambushed by an undetermined number of rebels at 5 a.m. as they were
passing by in Barangay Bukid, Las Navas, Northern Samar .
"Our troops fought back, resulting in a firefight which
lasted for 15 minutes. The firefight killed one of our soldiers and wounded
three others. No civilians were hurt during the incident," Detoyato said.
Detoyato said this act by the NPAs is a clear disrespect of
the rights of the typhoon victims to receive assistance from the government.
"This shows that they are insensitive to the plight of
the victims of the typhoon," he added.
Detoyato said "the attack on troops conducting HADR,
just several hours before their self-declared ceasefire takes effect this
midnight, is a clear indication that the NPA is not at all serious about their
respect to the spirit of Christmas and peace."
"On the part of the AFP, we will strictly observe the
unilateral suspension of military operation (SOMO) declared by His Excellency
President Benigno Aquino III which will take effect beginning 12:01 a.m. 23
December 2015 and will end 11:59 p.m. of 03 January 2016," he stressed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=840514
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