Army lauds ComVal residents' support

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23): Army lauds ComVal residents' support

The Philippine army lauded the awareness and support the civilian populace in Compostela Valley continue to show and provide to government troopers who are still on high alert following incidents of armed confrontations with the New People’s Army (NPA) in the area the past weeks.

Lt. Col. Davice Christopher G. Mercado, commander of the 71st Infantry Battalion personally expressed gratitude to the residents of a remote village in Maco town after the discovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) that was intentionally planted by the NPAs.

“This is a clear manifestation of the growing concern and awareness among the civilian populace which pre-empted fatalities to the troops as well as civilians residing in that area,” Lt. Col. Mercado said.

Acting on the report of local residents, army personnel from Alpha Company of 71st IB recovered an IED in Purok 4B, Sitio Bombaran, Barangay Elizalde in Maco last February 19.

The residents also reported the presence of NPA rebels and saw the planting of the IED in their community in Purok 4B, Bombaran.

“We also strongly condemn the continued use of landmines by the NPAs which places greater risk to the innocent residents in communities,” Mercado added.

He also assured the residents of Barangay Elizalde and the rest in their area of operation of the army’s continuing efforts to protect the communities from terror and chaos brought by NPA rebels.

Concerned residents reported the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) members who were then planting improvised explosive devices along the barangay road.

The recovered IED weighed six kilograms with 50-meter electric wire and the detonating device, the report of the army said.

The explosive device is now safely defused and under the possession of the operating troops.

As this developed, Brig. General Macairog Alberto, commander of 1001st Brigade pointed out that combat operations of the army are still on-going in some parts of Compostela Valley to track down the armed group responsible in laying the explosives.

“The army is always on high alert and ready to curb any terror plot aimed to destabilize the peace and order situation in our areas of responsibility,” Alberto said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=966486