Manila, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed
military troops delivering food supply to families affected by tropical storm “Urduja”.
About 50 rebels intercepted the soldiers while on their way
to deliver relief in Catubig town of Northern Samar on Saturday.
Two soldiers were wounded during the clash, says a
civil-military operations officer.
The NPA rebels ambush the troops under the Army’s 20th
Infantry Battalion (20IB) at around 3:20 P.M. and the fight lasted for one hour
and 25 minutes along Barangary Hinagoyonan.
According to civil military operations officer Second Lieutenant
Michelle Estares, the wounded soldiers were immediately taken to the Northern
Samar Provincial Hospital. They were identified as Corporal Yzazel Laure and Private
First-Class Ronald Gomez.
The operations officer expressed disappointment about the
incident.
“It is unfortunate and sad that our soldiers were engaged by
terrorist NPAs while serving the people. Our troops were there to conduct HADR
(humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) as part of our responsibility to
conduct disaster rescue operation and help people who need assistance during a
disaster,” Estares said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRMC) also condemned the incident.
“This is not an armed conflict, this is not a campaign on
anything. I hope that the NPA [rebels]would understand that what they did was
not good” very wrong,” says NDRRMC
spokesperson Romina Marasigan in a phone interview.
“If they were the victims of any natural disaster, the
government would have done the same thing to them – which is, provide them with
what they need during a time of calamity,” she added.
A total of 51, 004 families were affected by Urduja, out of
the said number, 20, 389 families are being served by the NDRRMC.
0 Comments