Army 36IB: NPA attack in SurSur town village nothing to do with SONA

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 16): Army 36IB:  NPA attack in SurSur town village nothing to do with SONA

The attack launched by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Lindoy, Tago town, in Surigao del Sur at past 11:00 a.m. on July 10 had nothing to do with the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 23.

During the incident, a member of the Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA) identified as Reymond Besinga, who was part of the security team was killed, according to Cpt. Francisco Garello, Jr., civil military operations (CMO) officer of the 36th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (PA) here.

It was staged as the army was installing the water pump turned-over to Lindoy Farmers Association under Project KaPALAYapaan on that day, the CMO added.

Cpt. Garello explained that the terror group just wanted to sow fear in order to make their presence felt as usual lest they might face an eventual meltdown much sooner.

Reportedly, the rebels had been extremely affected by the string of cases of new surrenderers now logged at 35 in the area of responsibility (AOR) of the said battalion.

Due to the incident, everybody present had to scamper for safety, it was learned.

The army was prompted to stop the ceremony that held in abeyance the turning over of a farm tractor, commonly known as “tortol” among farm workers in the province.

Cpt. Garello said that they were also quick to react by running after the three perpetrators believed to be members of Platoon 8 of Guerilla Front (GF) 19B under a certain Adel of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

LTC Xerxes Trinidad immediately issued a statement condemning the terror acts.

http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1010378