Army commander denies 27 casualties claimed by NPA rebs

BACOLOD City – Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, denied claims by the New People’s Army (NPA) that at least 27 government troopers were killed in action in January 2019 through “sniping” and other offensive operations the rebels launched in Negros.

“We do not hide our casualties” Arevalo said.

If true, he said such number of casualties cannot be covered up.

“It is plain and simple propaganda,” he added.

Arevalo casualties of war are considered heroes and “we give them recognition for fighting for our country, for our freedom, why would we hide them?”

He added that dependents of soldiers are also being informed if they are killed in action.

“So there is no sense at all why we would hide our casualties,” he further said.

In a press statement sent through Facebook messenger, the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command of the New People’s Army claimed that at least 27 troopers were reportedly killed in their “sniping and offensive operations against the government troops in Negros.”