Army commander sacked over NPA attack

MANILA, Philippines - An Army battalion commander in Camarines Norte has been removed from his post following last Sunday’s attack by communist rebels in Labo town that left four soldiers and a civilian dead.

Maj. Gen. Josue Gaverza, chief of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said Lt. Col. Epimaco Macalisang had been relieved as commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion on the basis of command responsibility.

“Of course. That’s standard (procedure). If it is a debacle, he (Macalisang) should be replaced,” Gaverza said. 

“The military rules work that way. If you have a debacle, you should give way to others who can do better. That is expected,” he added.

Gaverza said they would continue to probe the incident to determine whether lapses were committed during the incident.