FOILED EXTORTION. The encounter site in Pinanag-an village, Borongan City, Eastern Samar. A clash between government troops and members of the New People’s Army has stalled extortion activities of the communist terrorist group in an upland village in Borongan City, Eastern Samar. (Google image)
A clash between government troops and members of the New People’s Army has foiled extortion activities of the communist terrorist group in an upland village in Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
Sick of extortion activities, civilians gave information on the presence of NPA in their communities that led to a brief firefight on Saturday, the Philippine Army said in a press statement sent to reporters Sunday night.
Troops of the 78th Infantry Battalion (IB) figured in a brief gun battle with seven NPA members tasked to extort food supplies and cash from residents in Pinanag-an village, Borongan City.
The clash happened in the same village where six soldiers died and 20 others from the government troops were critically injured after the NPA detonated a landmine and staged an ambush in November 2019.
Recovered after the clash was an improvised grenade, two magazines with ammunition for the M16 rifle, vital documents, and personal belongings. No one was hurt from both sides, according to the military report.
“Villagers now speak about the massive extortion collection happening in many years in the villages along the stretch of the Suribao River. A former NPA supporter revealed that rebels collect six cups of rice per farmer, cash, and root crops. Farmers didn’t escape from their excessive resource generation activity,” said Lt. Col. Oliver Alvior, commander of the Army’s 78th IB.
The military said rebels resort to extortion due to the scarcity of food supply during the health crisis.
"Your Philippine Army will not hesitate to use legitimate military force against those armed groups that threaten the people's safety and well-being," he added.
Borongan, the capital of Eastern Samar province, is home to about 70,000 people.
At least nine of its 61 villages are still threatened by activities of the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1110131
Sick of extortion activities, civilians gave information on the presence of NPA in their communities that led to a brief firefight on Saturday, the Philippine Army said in a press statement sent to reporters Sunday night.
Troops of the 78th Infantry Battalion (IB) figured in a brief gun battle with seven NPA members tasked to extort food supplies and cash from residents in Pinanag-an village, Borongan City.
The clash happened in the same village where six soldiers died and 20 others from the government troops were critically injured after the NPA detonated a landmine and staged an ambush in November 2019.
Recovered after the clash was an improvised grenade, two magazines with ammunition for the M16 rifle, vital documents, and personal belongings. No one was hurt from both sides, according to the military report.
“Villagers now speak about the massive extortion collection happening in many years in the villages along the stretch of the Suribao River. A former NPA supporter revealed that rebels collect six cups of rice per farmer, cash, and root crops. Farmers didn’t escape from their excessive resource generation activity,” said Lt. Col. Oliver Alvior, commander of the Army’s 78th IB.
The military said rebels resort to extortion due to the scarcity of food supply during the health crisis.
"Your Philippine Army will not hesitate to use legitimate military force against those armed groups that threaten the people's safety and well-being," he added.
Borongan, the capital of Eastern Samar province, is home to about 70,000 people.
At least nine of its 61 villages are still threatened by activities of the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1110131
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.