Kalinaw News: CTG Kills Civilian and Destroys Privately-owned Equipment in Surigao del Sur

From Kalinaw News (Jun 25, 2021): CTG Kills Civilian and Destroys Privately-owned Equipment in Surigao del Sur

PLACER, Surigao del Norte— Another grave violation of International Humanitarian Law was committed by Communist NPA Terrorists after they desperately destroyed the civilian-owned construction equipment and inhumanely killed and severely wounded the caretakers in Lanuza town, Thursday evening, June 24. 

The said incident was perpetrated by more or less 15 members of Guerilla Front 30 under Noel Tumarlas Alacre alias Meagan of Guerilla Front 30, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee. 

The troops of 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion immediately responded to the said incident and briefly engaged the CTG. Two backhoes owned by a certain Mr. Paulo Lopez were damaged while three (3) other equipment were safely salvaged by the responding troops. 

Accordingly, the communist NPA terrorists harassed Lanuza Municipal Police Station as a ploy in order to deliberately burn the target equipment located in a privately established construction base are about 350 meters away from the police station. 

The perpetrators sporadically exchange gunfire with PNP personnel for about 20 minutes while their cohorts simultaneously torched the heavy equipment being rented by JLMCI Construction for the bypass road construction in the said municipality. 

Initial report stated that a watchman was mercilessly killed by the CTG while another one was reportedly wounded during the course of the attack. 

The victims were identified as Aldren Daraman, 27, married, and Melvin Buniel, 28 both residents of Barangay San Roque of Madrid town. Daraman was killed on the spot while Buniel was been rushed to Adela Serra Ty Memorial Center in Tandag City for immediate medical treatment. 

In the statement of Lt. Col. Michael Rey S Reuyan, Commanding Officer of the 36IB said that the unfortunate incident was a desperate attempt of the communist NPA terrorists to disrupt the peace and development efforts of the government. 

He further said that it was a treacherous act and anti-development tactics of the CTG to sow fear on the locals in order to survive their senseless revolution. 

On the hand, Brig. Gen. George L Banzon PA, Commander of 901st Infantry (Fight’Em) Brigade said that the destruction of civilian owned heavy equipment that were not use for any military purpose perpetrated by the communist NPA terrorists was meant to pressure the companies to give in to their extortion demands. 

He also cited that the destruction of privately-owned property and murder of noncombatants are all included in the provision that the Geneva Convention prohibits. 

“What happened in Lanuza town manifests the true colors CPP-NPA-NDF. Their action affirmed their inclusion to the list of terrorist groups by the international community such as United States, New Zealand, and by the European Union composed of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The incident will be added to the long list of war crimes they committed against our people over the years”, he said.

 In addition, Brig. Gen. Banzon offered the sincerest condolences to the bereaved family of the killed victim. 

He said that continuous operation is being conducted to go after the perpetrators. “We will press the fight against these ruthless murderers and violators of human rights in order to bring justice to our innocent people and to shield the peace-loving communities”, he added.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/ctg-kills-civilian-and-destroys-privately-owned-equipment-in-surigao-del-sur/