Army: NPA on rampage in northeastern Cagayan

TAGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan -- The military has accused the New People's Army of conducting attacks in northeastern Cagayan last week.

At least 40 rebels attacked the DATAJ Aquafarm in Barangay Dungeg, Sta Teresita, Cagayan, and forcibly took the Cal.45 service pistol of one of the two security guards before burning two backhoes and a dump truck, said Army Capt. Jefferson Somera, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division based in Gamu, Isabela.

In a separate attack, around 10 NPA rebels reportedly laid siege to Villa Cielo in Buguey town, also in Cagayan, and carted away four shotguns with 30 bullets from the barangay tanods. 

All the mobile phones of the villagers were also taken, Capt. Somera claimed.

The rebels also commandeered an Isuzu Elf truck to flee towards Sitio Bantay Bato, also in Villa Cielo.

The military added that villagers in Barangay Tabbac, also in Buguey were filled with fear when at least 21 heavily-armed NPA rebels “attacked their community by conducting house-to-house search and forcibly took their cellular phones, personal belongings and personal firearms.”

Rebels also allegedly tied up and threatened to kill civilian Jose Malabbo and militia member William Tinaza.

They were released after negotiations initiated by villagers.

Somera further claimed rebels also strafed a Ford Fiera AUV driven by a civilian.

Brig. Gen. Paul Atal, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, condemned the series of attacks, saying “these continuous terroristic and criminal acts of the (rebels) are the main reasons why President Duterte decided to withdraw from the peace negotiations with them, contrary to their claim that it was the government that gave up on it.”  

The rebels, he said, “are again deceiving the Filipino people while pretending to advocate peace while committing numerous acts of violence against the people and their communities.”

Despite the attacks, Atal encouraged rebels to avail of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government