BACOLOD City – The Mount Cansermon Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) said it successfully rendered “punitive actions” against one unit of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion in central Negros Island.
This led to the death of a soldier, NPA spokesman Ka Juan Malaya said. Four more soldiers were also injured, he added.
The encounter happened around 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 in Sitio Basakan, Barangay Panciao, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, the NPA claimed.
According to Malaya, the ambush was NPA’s way to punish the Army for its “numerous human rights violations.”
These violations include displacement of peasants and farmers and illegal arrests, Malaya said.
Students and teachers of far-flung communities in Negros Island are also threatened by soldiers, with some tagged as rebels or rebel supporters, Malaya added.
He also stressed that they are “not afraid” of the additional Army units deployed in central Negros, adding that they will continue with their tactical offensives aimed at “protecting the masses.”/PN
