AFP heightens watch on 4 Iloilo brgys
Four villages in two Iloilo towns are under heightened watch of government soldiers. This, following last week's deadly encounter between the military and elements of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in Southern Iloilo.
In a news follow-up, Captain Lowen Gil Marquez of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed the report to The News Today (TNT). Marquez, commanding officer of the AFP's 3rd Civil Relations Group, identified the villages as Tigbanaba and Igcabugo of Igbaras in the First District of Iloilo. Also under special AFP watch are areas within Engay and Agambulong in Leon, Second District of Iloilo.
Further still, the area of Osorio in San Remegio, Province of Antique was decided to be placed under tighter security as well by government soldiers.
The decision was deemed necessary in order to secure the townsfolk from possible retaliation and harassments from NPAs and legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) local hierarchy.
The five villages are also known to be infiltrated by the CPP-NPA however calls for help and intervention from locals also reached the police and the Army in the area.
In fact, Captain Marquez pointed out, last week's encounter occurred after the Army soldiers here responded to series of extortion incidents and threats on innocent civilians.
"We stand by our mission to protect the community and free them from the unfortunate criminalities perpetuated by the communist terrorists. We are keeping watch over these areas just as we also continue with our offensives in other Red-infiltrated and Red-victimized villages," Captain Marquez ended.