Military commander in Camarines Norte encounter relieved

MANILA, Philippines – The battalion commander of the troops involved in an encounter in Labo town in Camarines Norte which killed four soldiers and a civilian Sunday noon was relieved, a military official said.

Major General Josue Gaverza, commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said that Lieutenant Colonel Epimaco Macalisang of the 49th Infantry Battalion was relieved over the ambush staged by New People’s Army.

“That’s standard. If it’s a debacle, shouldn’t he be replaced? Aren’t these the rules of the military, that if you have a debacle, you should give way to others who can do better or who can still recover, so that’s expected,” he told reporters in an interview.

He added that they would assess if there was a need to relieve more personnel involved.

“If there is a need, if the lapses were made by the unit commander, then the proper course of action will be taken to address these lapses,” he added.

Meanwhile, pursuit operations against the rebels were still ongoing. Financial aid and burial expenses were also shouldered by the military for the families of the casualties, he said.