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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Residents flee ComVal village amid clashes
DAVAO CITY -- About 160 families from Barangay Andap in New Bataan, Compostela Valley province have fled their homes after intense fighting between government forces and the New People’s Army (NPA) since Friday.
The military launched an offensive Friday after communist rebels ambushed an Army vehicle that resulted to the death of six soldiers and wounding of two more.
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The evacuees are now housed at the New Bataan Gym. Food, clothing and medicines are needed by the evacuees, said Karapatan Southern Mindanao secretary general Kelly Delgado.
Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP), a militant group, claimed that the military prohibited New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin to have the families evacuated to the municipal gymnasium in the Poblacion. Balbin was reported to have sent a dump truck to facilitate the evacuation of the residents.
"The peace and order in the area was no longer safe for the people, especially for the children, to stay and we cannot understand why the military had to prohibit the evacuation. Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Sequitin of the Army's 66th Infantry Battalion had instead ordered the civilians to stay in Sitio Mother of Perpetual Help considering that the encounters were ongoing," said Rev. Jurie Jaime, EJP convener.
Jaime said, “The military has again inexcusably made an order that heaved the civilians near the risks and dangers present in the said incident. The military clearly violated the rights of the civilians and they should be made accountable for it.”
Major Randolph Cabangbang of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) denied the groups’ allegations, saying the evacuation was actually instigated by the progressive groups and the NPA, and not by the military.
Cabangbang said they are also not using civilians as guides in the mountain as he challenged the progressive groups to file charges against the Army if they have strong evidence.
"Karapatan should just shut up and concentrate on the reasons for the evacuation. The issue on the kidnapping of a resident to be used as guide is a serious accusation. Instead of yakking about the incident, Karapatan should file charges against those responsible and not act as if they are the PR firm of the NPA," Cabangbang said.
Cabangbang said EMC commander Major General Armando Cunanan had already ordered investigation into the incident and ordered the Army's 10th Infantry Division to "exhaust all means to punish the NPA members responsible" for the ambush.
Major General Jogy Leo Fojas of the Army's 10th ID, meanwhile, admitted that "there might have been some violation on the part of the troops as far as tactical movement is concerned."
Military operation in New Bataan is still ongoing as of this posting.
Around 14 soldiers from the Army's 66th Infantry Battalion were said to be on their way to Barangay Manurigao, New Bataan to conduct dialogue and survey in Manurigao when ambushed. It was learned that the said barangay is scheduled for medical and dental mission next month and that the soldiers were gathering data for the said activity. (BOT/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (October 28, 2008 issue)
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