Soldier killed by suspected NPAs in Davao Oriental

Army soldiers in Mindanao (AFP FILE PHOTO)

DAVAO CITY — Suspected New People’s Army rebels killed a soldier during an attack against a joint police and Army team, which was responding to a report of harassment in Barangay Lambog in Manay, Davao Oriental on Wednesday, the military reported.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, the spokesperson of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division based in Compostela Valley, said the soldiers and policemen were waylaid as they were heading for Sitio Paliwason.

“One junior officer, whose identity is being withheld, was killed during the incident while the troops recovered an M16 armalite rifle from the armed lawless group,” Batchar said.

He said the team was responding to a complaint from local officials of Barangays Rizal and Lambog about the presence of an armed group, which was threatening and intimidating the residents. As a result of the harassment, several residents had fled, Batchar said.

Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, the 10th ID commander, has expressed his condolences to the family of the junior officer, who died in what he said was an “unfortunate incident.”

The Manay incident took place a few hours after the Communist Party of the Philippines announced it was terminating the unilateral ceasefire it declared in August. “The 10ID will continue to abide by the suspension of offensive operations but will not stop in providing security to the people being harassed and intimidated by these armed lawless groups,” Batchar said.  SFM