Boy, 16, hurt as Army clashes with rebels

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A 16-year-old boy was wounded after suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members clashed with Philippine Army soldiers morning of July 8, 2020 in Tapaz, Capiz.

Alias Dondon (real name withheld), was wounded on his right thigh during the incident.

According to Colonel Marion Sison, 301st Infantry Brigade commander, Dondon was fetching water at Barangay Tacayan around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday when he was hit.

Dondon was near the location of the 12th Infantry Battalion-Community Support Program (CSP) team when the incident happened.

Members of the 12IB CSP team applied first aid on the wounded minor.

Despite the incident, Sison assured Tapaznons that the Army’s CSP Team will continue to bring the government closer to them through fast and unhampered delivery of services.

Recently, 12 CSP teams were deployed by the 12th IB to the depressed barangays of the municipalities of Tapaz in Capiz province and Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Maasin in Iloilo on June 22, 2020.

The CSP, which replaces AFP’s Oplan Bayanihan, emphasizes the military’s new thrust of enhancing nation-building and countryside development in relation to the peace policy of President Rodrigo Duterte.

CSP is a people-centered program which aims to bring peace and development in conflict-affected barangays. It is an initiative of the state forces to bring the government closer to the people through an immediate delivery of basic services especially to grassroots communities.