NDF admits NPA behind ambush that killed soldier

From the Leyte Samar Express (Dec 5): NDF admits NPA behind ambush that killed soldier

The National Democratic Front (NDF) in Eastern Visayas admitted Tuesday that a local unit of the New People’s Army (NPA) was behind the deadly ambush of soldiers last Dec. 1. Rebel priest and NDF-Eastern Visayas spokesperson Santiago Salas said the local unit Mt. Amendewin command was behind the attack on 78th Infantry Battalion troops in sitio Calingatnan, Barangay San Pedro in Albuera, Leyte. “The ambush is a symbolic victory showing the revolution continues and disproves the 8th Infantry Division’s [of the Philippine Army] announcement that the NPA is finished in Leyte,” Fr. Salas said in a statement released yesterday.

One soldier was killed and two others were wounded in an ambush staged by the communist rebels. The soldiers were on their way back to base after a community outreach program when they were fired upon by about 15 NPA rebels. “The NPA ambush was a punishment for the 78th IB’s human rights violations. The people have long demanded the punishment of the military for committing human rights violation in its area of responsibility,” Salas said.  Salas claimed the soldiers have been terrorising civilian communities in the hinterlands of Burauen and Albuera towns. “The soldiers also violate international humanitarian law by staying in the houses of civilians and in using barangay halls, schools, chapels and other civilian structures,” Salas added.

As this developed, the military has deployed additional troops in Leyte after the rebel attack. Capt. Gene Orense, 8th ID spokesman said the Philippine Army condemned the ambush and vowed to bring its perpetrators to justice. Orense added the ambush does not mean the NPA had regained its strength in Leyte. “The ambush is just an isolated case. Leyte has already been declared a year ago as manageable conflict-affected area and ready for development,” Orense said. The NPA has been launching successive attacks in the past few weeks that resulted in casualties on the military side.

http://leytesamardaily.net/2012/12/ndf-admits-npa-behind-ambush-that-killed-soldier/