Army calls NPA claims ‘fake news’

From the Visayan Daily Star (Apr 28): Army calls NPA claims ‘fake news’

The Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion yesterday dismissed as “fake news” claims of the Roselyn Pelle Command of the New People’s Army that the battalion suffered two casualties during an encounter on April 16 in Brgy. Guadalupe, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

In a statement issued by his unit, Lt. Col. Emelito Thaddeus Logan, 79IB commander said, that his troops did not commit any human rights violations during the pursuit operations, which was also certified by members of the barangay council of Guadalupe.

The Roselyn Pelle Command issued a statement claiming that two Army soldiers had been killed.

Logan said the seizure of the training camp abandoned by the NPA, as a result of the encounter, was a result of a tip given to them by residents in the area, who were already tired of the extortion and terroristic activities of the rebels.

He added that his unit also assisted San Carlos City and concerned government agencies in giving assistance to internally displaced persons, who returned to their homes, after it was cleared of NPA rebels.

Ka Cecille Estrella, rebel spokesperson, claimed that the 79IB created fake stories, especially on the molestation of a certain Sumulong by alias Lando and alias Morris.

The Roselyn Pelle Command does not have any members by those names or aliases within its membership, Estrella said.

It is clear and obvious that this fake story conjured by the 79th IB is intended to throw dirt at the NPA in order to hide their defeat, she added, stressing that the NPA strictly abides by the 3-8 discipline, including respecting and not exploiting women.

Estrella added that the NPA has a revolutionary court that tackles complaints against violations of human rights, such as the exploitation of women.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/April/28/topstory8.htm