The New People’s Army (NPA) has accused the military anew of forcing the evacuation of scores of lumad and peasant families in Tarragona, Davao Oriental.
(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a statement sent to The Manila Bulletin, Friday, the NPA Compostela Valley (Comval) Davao East Coast Sub-regional Operations Command Southern Mindanao accused the military of forcing families from the countryside to either flee their homes or “surrender” as NPA sympathizers.
“In the three days that Red fighters launched tactical offensives against US-Duterte’s armed forces around the region, and safely released a prisoner of war in Davao City, AFP troops added yet another crime against the people in forcing almost 200 hundred lumad and peasant families to flee their homes and livelihood and surrender as NPA members or sympathizers in Tarragona, Davao Oriental,” Roel Agustin, spokesperson, said.
Agustin said that the military operations in Tarragona have led to the evacuation of homes following operations by the 67th Infantry Battalion.
Among these was the food blockade against farmers transporting their goods starting July.
The food blockade, according to the NPA, followed an encounter between rebels and personnel suspected to be protecting the drug trade in Davao Oriental.
The NPA said that last July, its forces flagged down a vehicle at around 4 p.m., July 26, but, instead of stopping, the occupants fired a volley of gunshots and managed to escape.
“After several minutes, the armed passengers alighted the vehicle and scampered away. Red fighters were able to seize a Glock 9mm pistol, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, several handgun magazines and other military and personal possessions from the abandoned vehicle,” the NPA spokesman said.
At least two of the men they encountered, believed to be policemen, were severely wounded during the firefight, the statement said.
Immediately after the incident, July 27, the 67th IB forced 135 families in the three sitios of Barangay Tomoaong to leave their homes.
The evacuees are currently taking shelter in the barangay gymnasium while others have gone to relatives residing in nearby towns.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/08/04/npa-lashes-at-military-harassment-in-davor/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.