NPA atrocities complicate AFP’s Humanitarian Efforts

The Organized Crime Group New People’s Army attack the Peace and Development Team of 60^th Infantry Battalion on humanitarian mission Thursday morning a day after it announced ceasefire to give way for the victims of typhoon Pablo.

The 10^th 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 60^th IB were fired upon at the outreach station in said village”, 10^th 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 64^th 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.