Military foils NPA attempt to ambush humanitarian mission convoy in Surigao Norte town

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 24): Military foils NPA attempt to ambush humanitarian mission convoy in Surigao Norte town

Army troopers conducting route security encountered the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 in Barangay Jubgan, San Francisco, this province.

2Lt Jonel Castillo, spokesperson of the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB), said these soldiers were deployed to secure the humanitarian team convoy composed of the Army's 30IB, Philippine Navy Naval Forces - Eastern Mindanao, Phil. Marine Reservists, Kiwanis Club members, LGU Malimono and Provincial Health Office personnel.

Castillo said the soldiers encountered the NPA rebels after the humanitarian team convoy has just finished the conduct of Medical-Dental and Relief Operations in commemoration of the Philippine Army's 120th Founding Anniversary.

The humanitarian convoy was able to extract safely after the Route Security Team defended the convoy led by 30th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Rico Amaro.

"We are celebrating the Army's 120th Anniversary by reaching out to the farthest Barangay of the province, we offered Medical and Dental Service to our countrymen, we also gave relief goods while these NPAs offer us nothing but bullets and landmines," Castillo said.

"Last February while we were working and standing side by side to comfort our fellow Surigaonons traumatized by earthquake, they also ambushed our soldiers that delivered relief goods on the same southernmost barangay where we came from this morning. They have not changed at all. We are still looking for answers why are they doing these when it is our constituents from far flung areas that benefit from these activities," Lt. Col. Amaro said.

"We will not be cowed, we will face all threats just to make sure every Surigaonon is served by our government," Amaro added.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2731490249448/military-foils-npa-attempt-to-ambush-humanitarian-mission-convoy-in-surigao-norte-town-