The
Organized Crime Group New People’s Army attack the Peace and Development Team of
60th Infantry Battalion on humanitarian mission Thursday morning a
day after it announced ceasefire to give way for the victims of typhoon Pablo.
The
10th Infantry Division disclosed that at 5:45 a.m., army troops augmented
to assist and deliver relief goods to distressed and stricken residents in
Sitio Banoog, Brgy. Sto. Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, however, they were
waylaid by NPA fighters.
“Members
of 60th IB were fired upon at the outreach station in said village”,
10th ID spokesman Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza said. He then slams the
notorious group adding that perpetrating atrocity “is contrary to their promise
of a 29-day ceasefire” that started on December 5, 2012 to January 3, 2013.
“We
all know that their promise of truce is nothing but a sugar coated lie to make
them look like Good Samaritans. It is a mere façade to cloak their real
identity as criminals”, Paniza said. He added that the rebel group is
exploiting the distraught situation of the victims as propaganda and nothing
else. “This incident only manifests their insincerity in helping the people
especially those badly affected residents. If we are on relief mission mode,
then they are on ‘business as usual’ mode without considering that the assault
hampered our relief efforts”, he added.
To
recall on Sunday, four days after the National Democratic Front started
ceasefire and a day before the 64th year of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the NPAs also committed another crime by
attempting to kill Pfc. Lito Mansalo-on and by abducting his two minor
daughters, aged 14 and 12, in the remote village of Sitio Danao, Brgy Gupitan,
San Isidro, Davao del Norte. Paniza cited the said attack adding that the
criminal group did not spare the said soldier and his family who was also a
victim of Pablo’s wrath after their house was washed out during the onslaught
of the typhoon.
Paniza
assured though that the atrocities of the NPAs will not hamper their relief
efforts nor stop them to access remote areas to aid assistance and help the
victims to start anew.