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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Palace condemns Calinog attack
By Ruby P. Silubrico and Kathy Villalon Cinco
MALACANANG said Monday the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) has only proven that it deserves the terrorist tag after it launched the series of attacks against both government forces and private installations.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sent her sympathies to the families of the soldiers and policemen who died during an NPA attack in Calinog. She also slammed the attacks against policemen in Quezon.
Arroyo said the fallen military and police officers "died as heroes."
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said these attacks are being done by the communist groups in tandem with increased extortion of private firms and the stepped-up streets protests led by left-leaning militant groups.
"This strategy of terror cum mass actions and extortion has been rejected by the people and deserves the condemnation of every peace-loving Filipino," he said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the suspension of the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig) has led to the increased number of encounters and even attacks from the CPP-NPA.
He said we are now in what he called an "open country" as the military and police has also stepped up its offensives against the rebel groups.
"So in the same manner that they conducted an ambush, (there) is ongoing effort at really neutralizing each other because there are no more peace talks," he said.
He added that the President has also directed the AFP to ensure that there would be minimal casualties among the government forces despite its increase of operations and offensives.
Ermita however dismissed claims of NPA spokesman Gergorio Rosal that the increased attacks are their contributions to moves to force Arroyo to step down from office.
Rosal added that the NPA does not use landmines.
He said Rosal's statement is a mere "propaganda".
Lack in intelligence
Meanwhile, Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. said the said bombing that killed nine and wounded 20 government troops may have been due to a lack in the intelligence network.
"Basi kulang-kulang ang intelligence network," Tupas said over Aksyon Radyo Monday afternoon.
However, Col. Gregorio Fajardo of the Task Force Panay said that this isn't so.
"The rebels were just lucky in putting those two land mines in an area not considered as an ambush site as vehicles pass through there," Fajardo said.
Temporary victory
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the 3ID (Infantry Division) Major Lyndon Sollesta on Monday said the incident was a temporary victory for the rebels.
Sollesta said though the New People's Army (NPA) under Ka Mayok and Ka Tonying succeeded in their propaganda, what happened was not a big blow to government forces.
"It's only their temporary victory. After this incident, many of our soldiers want to be assigned in the area to help resolve insurgency," Sollesta said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now establishing if there's an reinforcement force to counter the group of Ka Tonying and Ka Mayok.
Sollesta assured the Barangay Mambiranan-Datagan, Calinog residents that the soldiers will neither terrorize them nor impose martial law in the area.
"We have learned our lessons from the recent incident. But we are trying our best to counter the insurgency problem. We are appealing to the people to continue their support and for them to remain vigilant," Sollesta said.
Sollesta added that they have no augmentation forces that will conduct the hot pursuit operation against the rebels because they have enough men.
Background
Last Saturday, 8:30 p.m., a landmine exploded while the Scout Ranger troop of the 47th Infantry Battalion was conducting an anti-insurgency operation against the group of Ka Mayok and Ka Tonying of the Central Front Party Committee in Panay.
Killed were SSGTs Alexander Luis, Ronel Panes, Melquides Montemayor, Paterno Villorente, PFCs Rosebert Nool, Rodelio Pacia, James Brian Angeles, Daves Villamor, Cpl. Marlo Petalyo.
Wounded were SSGT. Gil Galsem, PFCs. Rodrigo Agod, Rodel Jaud, Michael Canutohan, Charlito James, Mulian Onias, Richard Baslot, Joel Ryan Del Monte, Nazzer Abellar, Raul Fuentes, Ervin Gerona, Adonis Cabaljen, Raymundo Lim, Michael Fernandez, Ronnie Barcoma, Joel Octaviano, Christian Vientero, Dante Escogores, Cpls. Mario Parcia and Ronie Espiritu.
Angie Panes, wife of SSgt. Panes of Agsarapan, Passi City considered the Saturday ambush incident as the biggest tragedy in her family.
Angie immediately rushed to the hospital upon learning that her husband was among the casualties.
It was also a big disaster for the family of SSgt. Paterno Villorente of Brgy. Alalasan, Lapuz, Lapaz.
Villorente was about to retire this year after serving the government for 24 years.
Six of the wounded soldiers were already transferred to Camp Lapu-Lapu Station Hospital in Cebu while the others are in Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.
In another radio interview Monday evening, Tupas said he sympathizes with the family of those killed and with those who were wounded.
He said that the Provincial Government will give financial assistance to those affected. (With reports from Sunnex)
(November 22, 2005 issue)
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