ILOILO City – The local government of Janiuay, Iloilo suspended classes in elementary and high schools yesterday following Sunday’s encounter between government troops and rebels in Barangay Agcarope.
According to Mayor Jose de Paula, these schools were in the following barangays:
* Kuyot
* Agcarope
* Canawili
* Pararinga
* Pangilihan
* Monte-Magapa
* Consad
* Aglubong
* Quipot
* Panoran
* Ubian
* Yabon
The 15-minute encounter on Sunday afternoon left one member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary dead.
According to de Paula, the suspension of classes aimed to protect schoolchildren, teachers and the community in general.
“The class suspension would only be for a day,” said de Paula.
Classes resume today.
De Paula invoked Republic Act 7160’s (Local Government Code) Section 16 which states that“every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare….”
After Sunday’s encounter, additional troops from the 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company were deployed to Janiuay using two helicopters of the Philippine Air Force for pursuit operations.
For security reasons, Colonel Benedict Arevalo of the 301st Infantry Brigade declined to disclose the number of additional forces.
Aside from the suspension of classes yesterday, de Paula said the local government also deployed five ambulances and rescue vehicles to rebel-infested villages and these were on standby for medical emergencies.
De Paula assured the people of Janiuay that the town was secured by government forces./PN
