Army officer killed, 1 wounded in NPA attack

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1): Army officer killed, 1 wounded in NPA attack

Following the announcement on the termination of the unilateral ceasefire by the New People’s Army (NPA), an armed group believed to be NPA rebels attacked a joint police and army team in Sitio Paliwason, Lambog in Manay, Davao Oriental on Wednesday afternoon that left one junior officer killed and one wounded.

The joint team from the Manay Police and the 67th Infantry Battalion were on their way to a village in Rizal of the same town to respond to a complaint of extortion and harassment which was reported to the local officials and the police. When they reached Paliwason they were ambushed by a group of armed men.

An encounter ensued that left one junior officer (identity still withheld) and one wounded. The Army troops also recovered from the encounter site an M16 armalite rifle and backpack from the armed group.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division, said the 10ID would continue to abide by the suspension of offensive operations but would not stop in providing security to the people being harassed and intimidated by armed groups.

Prior to the incident, people from Rizal and Lambog have been complaining of extortion and harassment forcing about 60 percent of the Rizal residents to evacuate.

The extortion and harassment were reported to the Manay LGU and the provincial government.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=960234