Military, Reds trade accusations of ceasefire violations

MANILA, Philippines - The military and communist rebels traded accusations yesterday of ceasefire violations as the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) continue to hold peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway.

Separate Army reports said the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked soldiers in Davao Oriental and Eastern Samar.

On the other hand, the NDF said troops launched offensives patrols in various parts of Mindanao.

The government and communist rebels declared a ceasefire from Feb. 15 to 21.

Both parties have vowed to remain vigilant against possible attacks.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said troops from the 14th Infantry Battalion (IB) were fired at by five rebels last Saturday as they were securing a temporary camp in Barangay Roxas in MacArthur, Eastern Samar.

A rebel identified as Jaime Pagala was wounded during the 10-minute firefight, he added.

Ortiz said Pagala was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

“They (NPA members) were in the process of laying landmines and when they saw our troops, they fired at them before scampering away,” he said.

“He (Pagala) was hit in the back by pursuing troops.”

Troops seized at the scene an electric tape, a blasting cap, two pieces of batteries, a 50 meter electric wire, a claymore mine, an unused magazine, an M16 with 20 rounds of live ammunition.

NPA rebels also attacked troops in Davao Oriental.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said soldiers were responding to reports of armed men in Barangay Mahayag in Banay Banay, Davao Oriental, when undetermined number of NPA rebels fired at them.

The 28th Infantry Battalion is now preparing reports to general headquarters for filing of complaints on the ceasefire violation, he added.

However, the NDF said security forces violated the suspension of offensive military operations in various parts of Mindanao.

Jorge Madlos, NDF spokesman in Mindanao, said these violations cast doubt on the government’s sincerity in pursuing the peace process.

“These ceasefire violations endanger the ongoing peace talks between the NDF and the Philippine government and the overall peace process,” he said.

Madlos said the ceasefire violations were recorded from Feb. 15 to 16.

In Bukidnon alone, the military and police violated the truce eight times, he added.

Madlos said security forces are conducting offensive combat operations in the town of Quezon. Troops from the 8th IB have mounted five offensive combat patrols in the towns of Kitaotao and Don Carlos, he added.

Madlos sad the military and police forcibly gathered people in Barangay Osmeña in Dangcagan to extract intelligence information.

The 8th IB also deployed a truckload of troops in Barangay Namnam, San Fernando to reoccupy an abandoned detachment, he added.

Maj. Eugenio Osias IV, Army 4th Division spokesman based in Cagayan de Oro, denied that they violated the truce.

“Madlos doesn’t know what he is talking about when he said that we are violating the ceasefire,” he said.

“He should be studying more on the provisions of SOMO so he would not look embarrassing.”

Osias said they only deployed soldiers involved in development programs to eradicate poverty in far-flung areas.

“We are not violating the ceasefire because there is no military operation being conducted,” he said.

Osias said the rebels are against development projects since these would weaken their support from communities.

“He (Madlos) is just trying to destroy the credibility of our soldiers because the NPA clout and influence in these areas have weakened as the people now realized that the government is working for them,” he said.