The massacre of three civilians, a minor teenage boy and two village officials, in Ticao Island off Masbate, has become a finger-pointing, ‘who dunnit’ sensitive issue between State troops and the rebel New People’s Army (NPA).
On Saturday January 30, barangay captain Rey Sabueso Encabo, councilman Robert “Bongbong” Deonila Almodiel and minor 14-year old teenage boy Jay Cristobal Almoradie were gunned down by armed men inside a house at Barangay Bartolabac, San Jacinto, Ticao Island, Masbate province.
On Sunday, the Philippine Army 9th Infantry Division issued a statement blaming the NPA for the Ticao Island massacre.
On Tuesday, February 2, the rebel Jose Rapsing Command (JRC-NPA Masbate) countered, tossing the blame for the massacre to the Charlie Company, 9th IBPA, currently conducting continuing military operations in the nearby areas in Ticao Island.
“The 3 civilians were intentionally gunned down by state troops, and the minor teenage boy Almoradie was intentionally killed for he witnessed the entire incident,” Maria Roja Banua, spokesperson of NDF-Bicol, said in a statement posted at the internet.
The ongoing State military operations in Masbate had been launched several months ago to attain its objective of turning the island-province as “conflict-manageable area” and to destroy the backbone of insurgency.
So far, little successes were attained by State military initiatives as the Masbate rebels have managed to strike back in short term tactical offensives.
http://bicoltoday.com/2016/02/05/state-forces-npa-in-finger-pointing-blame-over-massacre-of-2-village-officials-1-minor-in-ticao-masbate/
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