Mountain Province NPA ambush aftermath: Government, NDF peace talks pushed

By Gina Dizon

TADIAN, Mountain Province – Church, and concerned groups and residents here called on the government and the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army to resume peace talks following recent attack of the NPA on policemen killing one officer and wounding nine others.

They said this was needed to attain peace not only in this town but nationwide  during the recent indignation rally called by Mayor Anthony Wooden which drew a crowd of nearly a thousand residents.

Poblacion barangay chairman Bonifacio Daskeo cited  the good  the police-trainees rendered including help given on  the construction of  a school and church  and cleaning activities in the community.

Nine five police trainees with the Cordillera Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of the Philippine National Police were undergoing  a training course on Special Counter-Insurgency Unit Training (SCOUT) at  Camp Babalaan here at  Poblacion.  

The NPA ambush happened at SitioKabunagan along the road when police-trainees had their early morning jog June 28.

Tadian councilor Evelyn Taclobao  called on the NPA to leave the  town. Wooden also had the same sentiment  urging the  NPA  to leave to attain peace in the community, adding local officials shall bring the people’s sentiment to concerned national authorities.

Barangay captain  Bernard Buned of  Lubon said the armed conflict is not a reason for people to have differences with each other but to unify as he called on the residents of  Tadian  to have further information and education  on  mini-hydros  introduced in their town.

Multinational company Asia Pac introduced a 3.4 megawatt mini hydro called Dicapan hydro power energy in this municipality.

Wooden said the LGU shall effect the most beneficial arrangement for the people of the mini-hydro project. 

This, as Episcopal church priest  ArchimedesTurtem  based in Tadian  read the  earlier statement of  diocesan  bishop  Brent Alawas read during an earlier provincial rally, calling on the NPA- National Democratic Front- Communist Party of the Philippines and the Philippine Republic to  resume peace talks.  

Peace talks between the two forces had been stalled since 2005. 

Lately, President Benigno Aquino  terminated peace talks between the government and  the NDF.

Roman Catholic church  Fr  Marion Buyagawan, Mission Rector  of the Holy Rosary Catholic Mission of Kayan , Tadian  called for resumption of peace talks between  NDF and the Government of the Republic of the  Philippines. 

Camp Babalaan officer in charge  Lt. Calderon of the Philippine Army  said the government  is doing counter insurgency  operations and it is up to the people to judge what happened during the incident.