Stop attacks around Mayon, AFP asks rebs

MAYON HIDES BEHIND ASH CLOUD A resident of Daraga town in Albay province takes an early morning walk as an ash cloud covers the picturesque Mt. Mayon. This photo was taken at 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday from Barangay Busay in Daraga. —GEORGE GIO BRONDIAL

LUCENA CITY—The military has appealed to communist rebels to stop launching attacks and allow the unhampered movement of representatives of government agencies helping evacuees fleeing the wrath of Mayon volcano in Albay province.

“Our fellow Filipinos are currently facing a critical situation. They need all immediate help that we can give. Let us temporarily put aside the fighting to provide them with unhampered quick assistance,” said Col. Teody Toribio, spokesperson for the military’s Southern Luzon Command.

“The situation around Mayon is critical. The NPA (New People’s Army) should not make it hard and worse for the civilians,” he said.

He made the call after a team of Army soldiers, who were on their way to assist evacuees, was attacked by a band of suspected rebels in the village of Malabago in Guinobatan town early on Monday.

Toribio said a soldier was wounded in the five-minute firefight. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.