Military slams NPA for violating truce

MANILA, Philippines - The military has accused the New People’s Army (NPA) of violating the ceasefire it declared in typhoon-hit areas following an encounter in Negros Oriental on Sunday.

Army reports said soldiers from the 11th Infantry Battalion were on patrol in Barangay Pitogo in La Libertad town when a number of NPA guerillas fired at them at about 5 p.m.

The incident triggered a 10-minute firefight that resulted in the death of a rebel whose name was not immediately available.

Maj. Ray Tiongson, spokesman for the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said no soldier was injured or killed during the encounter.

He said the clash happened even if the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared a truce in areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

“This is a clear violation of the CPP-NPA on their ceasefire declaration. It only shows that their leadership has no control over their units. The Army here in Negros remains vigilant in securing and protecting the people from these lawless armed elements,” said Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, chief of the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade.

Earlier, the CPP-NPA declared a ceasefire from Nov. 8 until Dec. 24 in Eastern and Central Visayas, Panay and Negros islands to allow NPA units in devastated areas to conduct rehabilitation efforts.

A rifle with a loaded magazine, several slugs for an M-16 rifle and a backpack containing subversive documents were recovered by the military from the encounter site.  

Tiongson said last Sunday’s clash marked the second time the rebels violated their ceasefire declaration.

He said the first violation happened last Nov. 16 when the insurgents fired upon government troops in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental.          – With Jennifer Rendon