Sunday, September 07, 2008 AFP, NPA issue conflicting statements on encounter
WHILE the Philippine Army (PA) claimed the government troops may have wounded some New People's Army (NPA) members during an encounter last week in Sipalay City, the NPA Southwest Front in turn alleged that two from the military were killed in action.
Nilo Magtanggol of the Roger Mahinay Command, NPA-Southwest Front said in a statement that the "NPA squad was able to outmaneuver a far superior Alpha company of the 61st Infantry Battalion and ambushed one of its column in sitio Lamintaw, Barangay San Jose, Sipalay City around 9:30 a.m. of August 28."
"The firefight resulted to two killed in action (KIA) on the part of the military and several others wounded. The KIAs and WIAs (wounded in action) were confirmed by the Red guerillas who were near the 'killing zone'. There was no casualty or wounded on the NPA side that withdrew safely," the statement added.
Earlier radio reports quoted military officials as saying some members of the NPA may have been injured during the encounter as evidenced by bloodstains sighted along the NPAs' withdrawal route.
The report added that nobody was injured among the soldiers after the firefight.
Magtanggol said the NPA unit "spotted the approaching military men and decided to make a defensive ambush position. The bandit-mercenary RPAs acted as the advance unit of the military. The other operating columns were reluctant to engage or pursue the NPA after the firefight, giving enough room for the withdrawal of the Red warriors back to their main unit."
"After the successful campaign by the NPA against large scale mining by punishing Philex Mines weeks ago, the military, particularly the 61st IB, has concentrated its forces to act as special security for foreign mining corporations. Despite the ecological and social disaster that these mining companies have cause against Sipalaynons and Negrosanons, the US-Arroyo regime has escalated its state terrorism in collaboration with profit-kickback hungry and environment-hazard local officials in neutralizing the people's opposition against massive land grabbing and ecological ruin caused by mining operations," the statement added.
A statement from Philex Mining Corporation on its Sipalay project, however, stressed that "aside from the reforestation program, established environmental programs during the mine's actual mining and milling operations were continued and/or modified to correspond with the requirements under the care and maintenance status."
"The company has identified the most appropriate use of the infrastructures built as well as appropriate modification of the lands disturbed during mining. Facilities for environmental mitigating measures such as tailing ponds and silt ponds are being closely monitored regularly as well as with spillways and canals within the mine site. Rehabilitation measures and repairs are being done to maintain the tailings ponds' stability and the spillways' capability. Clearing is done whenever necessary to prevent clogging of drainages in the site and siltation of water channels," the company said.
Philex officials said that in cooperation and collaboration with various concerned agencies and sectors, two daycare centers were renovated and inaugurated last year: the Patag Daycare Center and Skid 8 Daycare Center.
"PGPI-Bulawan's counterpart in this endeavor is the provision of construction materials while the City Government of Sipalay, Negros Occidental, shouldered part of the labor expenses and the community members engaged doing the labor part themselves." (CGC)
