Villager killed in NPA harassment in Surigao del Norte

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 19): Villager killed in NPA harassment in Surigao del Norte

A villager was killed, while two other civilians were critically wounded, when an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists harassed a community on Wednesday in Barangay Lahi, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, said Capt. Francisco P Garello Jr., Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the Army’s 36th Infantry (Valor) Battallion (36th IB) late Wednesday afternoon.

“The terrorists harassed the community which resulted iin the instantaneous death of a civilian and the wounding two others around noon time on Wednesday,” Garello said, in a phone interview with The Manila Bulletin.

The 36th IB CMO officer, identified the slain victim as Jepti Acido, 32, single and resident of Barangay Tayaga, Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Wounded and immediately evacuated to the Surigao City Medical Hospital for treatment were Virgil Flor Ortiz, 23, resident of Barangay Tayaga, Claver town and AdnerMalaque, 20 and resident of Barangay Villafranca, Gigaquit town, both of Surigao del Norte province.

The terrorists, believed to be under Guerilla Front 16-C (GFC 16-C) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) harassed the residents of Barangay Lahi by indiscriminately firing their high powered firearms near the barangay hall.

“The three civilians on board a motorcycle happened to pass by the area when the incident happened resulting in the death of Acido and wounding his two other companions,” Garello said.

Meanwhile, troops of the Army’s 56thInfantry Battallion (56th IB) discovered an abandoned NPA camp in the Palma Gil area in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, according Capt. Jerry S. Lamosao, chief of Public Affairs Office (PAO) of the Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division (10th ID).

“The abandoned encampment that was found by our ground troops at 6 a.m. on Monday can accommodate 100 terrorists,” said the 10th ID spokesperson, in a statement sent to The Manila Bulletin on Wednesday evening.

“It was estimated to have been abandoned about 10 days ago,” the 10th ID PAO officer said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/04/19/villager-killed-in-npa-harassment-in-surigao-del-norte/