DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 25, 2013) – Communist rebels killed a soldier and four pro-government militias in an attack at detachment in the town of Balingasag in Misamis Oriental province in southern Philippines, officials said Wednesday.
Officials said New People’s Army rebels raided the detachment in the village of Kibanban and eventually killing the five men after overpowering them in the clash. The rebels also went house to house and searched for weapons, and tied the hands of village men before escaping.
Villagers were mourning the deaths of the victims, who were actively engaged in peace activities in the town.
Kibanban has been dubbed as a “Village of Hope” in 2005 being the role model of strong cooperation between the military and the populace in its fight against insurgency.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, condemned the attack on the five men, who were only protecting the village against lawless elements.
“They died as heroes; the AFP is mandated to protect the people in communities from the threats and intimidation. They have sacrificed much while promoting peace in that barangay,” Cruz said.
He said the rebel group was also behind another attack on a construction firm in Compostela Valley province where villagers put their lives in grave danger in an effort to prevent the NPA from burning heavy equipment in the village of Tapia in Montevista town.
The rebels called for reinforcement after angry villagers hurled stones at them.
A group of rebels arrived and opened fire on the civilians, who luckily escaped the attack. The rebels were allegedly demanding extortion money from the firm.
Cruz said he appreciated the actions taken by the villagers and praised them for their bravery. “This is a concrete strong example of our Bayanihan in the community,” he said.
The NPA has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a separate state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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