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Friday, July 11, 2008
ComVal execs meet amid surge in NPA atrocities
DAVAO CITY -- In light of the recent surge of atrocities in the province, the Compostela Valley Peace and Order Council met Thursday to map out plans to address the growing activity of the New People's Army (NPA) in the province.
Governor Arturo Uy assured the public that it is "business as usual" in the province amid the grenade attack in Nabunturan last week that left three people dead and a dozen others wounded.
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"We are still very peaceful in ComVal, the peace and order situation is not alarming," Uy told the regular monthly forum of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at the Capitol recently.
Uy said that not a single businessman has left the province because of fear, adding that instead they were interested to pour in investments in the province.
The governor, who was on an official visit to China when the Nabunturan explosion happened, said Chinese investors he met in Xiamen heard of the attacks but preferred to discuss with him the business potentials of the province.
"Walang pagbabago (there is no change)," Uy said about the peace and order situation in Compostela Valley, which hosts six to seven armed NPA guerrilla fronts.
Provincial Police Director Ronald de la Rosa said the NPA perpetrated a total of 104 operations in the province from January to July 8 of this year.
He said though that despite the surge of rebel atrocities, the police and the military is still on top of the situation.
Task Force Park 'N Go meanwhile has identified the suspects and the motive behind the attack on Park 'N Go bakery last week. Authorities though refuse to give names for security reasons and to avoid compromising the continuing probe.
Uy created the task force Monday to "conduct an impartial investigation" and identify and arrest the perpetrators.
Based on the Scene of Crime Operations (Soco) findings, the grenade used was of an M16 fragmentary hand grenade.
The star witness, who is an ex-soldier, is under tight security at the Davao Regional Hospital. He is pointing at personal grudge as the motive behind the blast.
The ex-soldier escaped death after he took cover behind a motorcycle.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Compostela Valley has filed the multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder case against the suspects.
Governor Uy said the P200,000 reward he offered still stands and would be awarded to a witness after the CIDG authenticated the information and recommended the prize.
"We will not be intimidated, we will not be discouraged. We are determined to solve this problem," Uy said. (BOT/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (July 11, 2008 issue)
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