Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang on Thursday condemned the attack staged by the communist New People’s Army that killed a junior officer of the army in Manay town.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of an officer of the 67th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army who died in action and as he was waylaid by a bullet from an NPA sniper,” Dayanghirang said in a press statement.
Second Lieutenant Miguel Victor Alejo, 26 years of age, was the junior army officer killed the attack.
Alejo was a member of Philippine Military Academy Sinag-Lahi Class of 2015. He is from the province of Nueva Ecija and Quezon City.
“This violent incident happened amidst the ongoing peace talks and unilateral ceasefire between the Government and the CPP-NPA-NDF. Violence could have been prevented, unfortunately the CPP-NPA-NDF has allowed these things to happen, which now underscores doubts in terms of its sincerity on the peace process,” Dayanghirang said.
The governor added that the attack was not just an assault on the military or the police but clearly an attack on all the people of Davao Oriental and the rule of law.
“This deliberate assault on government forces and threats to civilians may now have threatened and impacted the viability of the ceasefire as well as the peace talks between the Government and the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he added.
The attack, Dayanghirang pointed out, had exposed civilians to danger that caused mass evacuation.
“We in the Provincial Government will continue to support the Municipal Government of Manay in providing material support to the men, women, children and elderly evacuees, who are now being displaced by the violence.”
Dayanghirang also called on the peace panel of the government to investigate and make sure that such atrocities will never happen again.
He also asked his constituents for sobriety and pray for the peaceful resolution of all the conflicts at the soonest time possible.
In a statement to the media on Thursday, Captain Rhyan Batchar, chief information officer of 10th Infantry (Agila) Division said Alejo and his troops, together with the members of Philippine National Police (PNP) in the area were responding to the complaints of residents in Barangays Lambog and Rizal in Manay town when waylaid by undermined number of NPAs.
“Barangay officials complained that the NPAs were forcing them to support the communist movement and forcibly asking money and foodstuffs from store owners and ordinary individuals,” Batchar said in the statement.
He added that the local police force of Manay and the local government unit requested the assistance of 67th IB to address the security concerns of the people in said villages.
The responding members of the army and police were ambushed by the NPAs afternoon on Wednesday, February 1 in Sitio Paliwason, Lambog, Manay.
“Reinforcing troops of 67th IB immediately proceeded to the area and helped secure the people by moving them away from the encounter site. The troops also recovered another two high-powered rifle, one an AK-47 and personal belongings left by the fleeing NPAs,” Batchar added.
He added that the skirmishes forced several residents in Lambog and Rizal to leave their homes for safety.
Barangay officials in said villages, Batchar said, have already reported the evacuation of residents to the LGU and police of Manay.
“It is very sad that this incident happened while the NPA was supposed to be observing a unilateral ceasefire which they say is still in effect until February 10,” Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of 10th ID said in the same statement.
The attack, Valencia added, manifested that the NPAs are never the people’s army – as they waylaid a police-army team who were responding to the pleas of the people for their safety and security.
“It is the mandate of the soldiers and the police to secure and protect the people and the communities,” he added.
