NPAs tagged in Ilocos Sur barangay attack

By Freddie G. Lazaro

QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur  – Suspected New People’s Army rebels attacked and damaged a barangay hall and an adjacent house here in Barangay Patungcaleo Tuesday night.

Lt. Col. Eugene Julio Osias IV, commander of the Philippine Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion, confirmed Wednesday the incident and said responding troops recovered an undetonated improvised explosive device on the second floor of the barangay hall.

He said that an explosion destroyed the roof of the barangay hall.

No one was reported killed or wounded.

Witnesses said prior to the explosion, they saw two unidentified persons running away from the barangay hall.

He believed that this was done by NPA rebels, who are trying to sabotage the ongoing skills and livelihood training being conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

He added that he also deployed his troops to the village as the community support program team to the on-going livelihood and skills training.

He said that follow-up probe to the incident is going on.

Earlier, Major General Paul T. Atal, commander of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division based in Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Upi, Gamu, Isabela, condemned the series of attacks carried out by NPA rebels in Cagayan province.