Solcom replaces Army commander after NPA attack in Mindoro Occidental

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LUCENA CITY, Philippines-–The head of the military forces operating on Mindoro Island has been relieved after the attack by the New People’s Army rebels that killed one policeman and Army soldier last November 7.

Major Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the military’s Southern Luzon Command, said Lt. Col. Mario Africa was replaced by Lt. Col. Michael Licyayo as commander of the 76th Infantry Battalion effective Nov. 8.

Guzman made the announcement through a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s an SOP (standard operating procedure) if there is an internal security operation-related incident to preserve the tempo (in the anti-insurgency operation),” he said.

Guzman added Solcom would also conduct an investigation on possible security lapses of the soldiers in Mindoro.

An estimated 50 rebels attacked the police station in Paluan town, killing a police officer and a soldier.

Paluan Mayor Carl Michael Pangilinan and his municipal administrator were taken hostage by the rebels and were used as human shields as they retreated.

The local officials were freed at a river about three kilometers from the police station.

Higher authorities also sacked the police chief of Paluan after an investigation showed that he was nowhere to be found during the attack.

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