CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal — Three locals from Kalayaan, Laguna’s Brgy San Antonio who were residing in a house where an NPA leader was killed, expressed their need for assistance through an affidavit notarized on Aug 11, requesting for military custody in fear for their lives.
The trio admitted to being coerced to hide and support Mario Caraig alias Jethro, the Secretary of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee’s SRMA 4C, from pursuing AFP-PNP elements who were then closing in to the location of the now deceased terrorist commander.
Brigadier General Alex Rillera, Commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigde which has operational jurisdiction over Laguna, identified the coerced civilians as Virgillo Asedillo, Chloe Anne Asedillo and Marknel Iwarat.
“Under duress, these civilians took in alias Jethro who was then fleeing from the Aug 4 encounter site wherein RTF ELCAC 4A’s PLEDS Team neutralised alias Termo, the NPA Commander of the Main Regional Guerilla Unit which operates across Southern Tagalog”, said BGen Rillera.
He said that immediately after the encounter, the trio “approached our forces and pleaded to go with them and be taken under government custody out of fear of reprisal from the NPAs who might think that they were the concerned citizens who tipped the security forces of his presence in the area”, ended BGen Rillera.
The military presented their signed affidavit as well as pertinent document from the Local Government of Kalayaan, Laguna indicating that civilian authorities are cognizant of the arrangement between and among the military, PNP and the concerned civilians.
Major General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr, Commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said that granting protective custody to those under terrorist threat is part of their responsibility to every Filipino citizen.
“We will not allow the NPAs to terrorize our people by allowing them to avenge the death of two of their most seasoned cadres, thus, the safety and security of these coerced residents are our priority as of the moment”, added Maj Gen Burgos.
He emphasized that 2ID has time and again proven their ability to protect their informants as well as their families.
“The fact that Karapatan has once again taken the lead in the left’s massive propaganda and misinformation operations in the aftermath of these twin debacles”, referring to the successive neutralization of alias Termo and alias Jethro, “is a manifestation that the NPA terrorists are once again on panic mode as they try to avert the massive paranoia and demoralisation that it will cause upon their ranks which could lead to the underground movement’s permanent demise in Southern Tagalog”, ended Maj Gen Burgos.
The military reported that they are now awaiting for the formal declaration of the dismantling of the STRPC’s Guerilla Front Cesar which terrorises the communities in the boundaries of Rizal, Laguna, Quezon and Bulacan.
GF Cesar will be the second guerilla front to be dismantled in Southern Tagalog after the 202nd Brigade defeated GF Honda after the 2018 campaign.
GF Honda used to operate in the provinces of Cavite and Batangas.
[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/residents-living-in-encounter-site-plead-for-govt-custody/
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