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
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