Soldier killed as Army, rebels clash amid COVID-19 truce

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

A member of the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade was killed in an encounter with suspected members of the New People’s Army early morning of Tuesday at Lambunao, Iloilo.

Captain Cenon Pancito III, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, identified the fatality as Private First Class Mark Nemis of Madalag, Aklan.

The encounter happened amid the ceasefire between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The CPP has ordered its armed wing, the NPA, to observe a ceasefire with government forces starting 12 a.m. of March 26 until 11:59 pm on April 15.

On the other hand, the government announced the ceasefire a week earlier, or on March 19. It will also lapse on April 15.

Pancito said the government troops were conducting security patrol and information dissemination when they encountered some 20 members of the Baloy Platoon of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay around 5:45 a.m. at the hinterland community of Sitio Agilan, Barangay Panuran.

The area is around 15 kilometers from the Lambunao town proper.

The firefight lasted for about 20 minutes.

Pancito said the group led by Carl Teodosio alias Amo/Andoy later withdrew towards the villages of barangays Aglobong and Agcarope in Janiuay town.

Recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle long magazine, 5.56mm ammunitions, a back pack containing subversive documents with high intel value, and the rebels’ personal belongings.

 

BREACH OF TRUCE

Pancito said the incident only showed the NPA’s blatant violation of the ongoing ceasefire.

“We did stop with our offensive operations. We have a mandate, though, to provide security services in the area. Our troops have a mandate to secure the people,” he said.

Prior to Tuesday’s encounter, Pancito said they’ve been receiving information that several armed men, who were believed to be NPA rebels, were seen in the area.

 

CONDEMNATION 

Following the incident, Major General Eric Vinoya, 3ID chief, condemned the incident.

“Instead of helping our people fight COVID-19 pandemic, these communist-terrorists are taking advantage of the situation to conduct atrocities distracting the COVID-19 efforts of our troops. They are the ones violating their ceasefire, since they purposely left their lairs in the mountains and went down to the barangays where our troops are doing humanitarian activities,” he said.

Vinoya noted that Lambunao town has recorded six positive COVID-19 cases, hence, “our troops in the area are doing everything to help contain the spread of the virus through awareness drive and manning the government-established quarantine control points. And, here comes the terrorists, doing nothing but waiting for the perfect timing to destroy the COVID-19 efforts of the Lambunaonons, a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

But despite the loss, Vinoya said the troops will remain resolute in serving the people, especially in a health crisis situation.

“As we strengthen our COVID-19 efforts, we will also be intensifying our defensive action to protect our people from the menace of these terrorists, the true viruses of the society,” Vinoya said.

 

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ECQ

A week ago, Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion, already warned that the NPAs are taking advantage of the people’s home quarantine to recruit members and carry on with extortion activities.

Batara said they’re still doing security patrol operations in upland villages where there are reports of NPA recruitment and extortion activities.

Batara said they are doing security patrol, sans offensive operations, to protect military camps and communities.

Batara said that their troops are on alert despite the truce.

“We have been telling our troops, especially those assigned at CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit) detachments because they are more prone to attacks,” he said.