NPA attacks gov’t troops on anniversary

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – On the 44th founding anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA), communist guerrillas harassed government troops securing Good Friday rites in Butuan City on Friday morning, March 29.

Lt Joe Patrick Martinez, civil-military operations officer of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, said guerrillas attacked security forces during the “Panaad 2013” in Purok Iyaw, Barangay Anticala at around 5 am.

People attending the event were already praying the 4th Station of the Cross when the exchange of gunfire started, Martinez said.

A government militia was reportedly killed during the incident while more than 5,000 civilians were temporarily trapped. Those caught in the crossfire included Rep Jose Aquino II of the 1st District of Agusan del Norte.

Shortly past 11 am, however, reports reaching Rappler showed that the civlians, including the congressman, were already able to leave the site.

Lt Col Eugene Osias, 4th Infantry Division spokesman, said the incident lasted around 5 minutes. In a phone interview with Rappler, he said 15 armed men perpetrated the attack on government special forces and members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units or Cafgu. 

Osias said the attackers were suspected members of NPA’s Guerilla Front 21.

‘Why attack us?’

Rev Fr Joesilo Amalla, parish priest of the St Joseph Cathedral, who also presided over the Good Friday event, said the NPA “disrespected the solemnity of the Stations of the Cross.” “They don’t know when to stop fighting,” Amalla said.

“Why do they attack us? They should submit themselves to our God and repent for their sins. I will pray for the soul of our soldier who died while protecting us,” Amalla added.

Martinez said the people proceeded with the event and ignored the sounds of gunfire until they reached the last station.

He also lambasted the statement of Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front-Mindanao, that the incident was a “misencounter” between two state security units.

“It is impossible that it was a ‘misencounter.’ This was a big event wherein the military coordinated with the police. We know where all our forces were positioned,” Martinez said.

Northern Mindanao is one of the areas known as a hotbed of the communist movement in the country.

The Good Friday attack came a month after the NPA’s daring simultaneous raids in Bukidnon, supposedly meant as a punishment against abusive plantations. 

Intelligence sources told Rappler that Army was warned several weeks ago about an impending guerrilla attack in Butuan. – with reports from Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com