Army, NPA engage in 'word war'
After four successive encounters between the New People's Army (NPA) and the government troops in the hinterlands of Tapaz, Capiz, the battle has turned into a word war between the spokespersons of both camps.
The NPA through its spokesperson Jury Guerrero called up local radio stations and read a prepared statement claiming that the Army's presence in those areas of Tapaz were not for humanitarian and social development reasons but to harass the natives or the “tumandoks”.
The Army, in defense, claimed that they were in the area to pursue their mandate to bring peace and order in areas affected by insurgency. “This is a clear admission by the local NPA spokesperson that when the Government tries to bring development to communities that need them, the NPA is there to disrupt our efforts,” the Army said in a press statement signed by 1st Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas.
Guerrero also denounced the Army’s use of an Artillery cannon stating that “these cannons were recklessly fired upon innocent Tumandoks.”
Posadas, public information officer of the Third Infantry Division, Philippine Army, confirmed the use of artillery but only to ease the pressure of the attacking NPA from the lesser-manned squad of the Army.
Posadas said only two rounds were fired and they were expertly aimed at legitimate targets which were identified by their well-trained forward observers.
“If ever there was a Tumanduk present during this engagement it is possibly because the NPA bring them along while conducting their tactical offensives against the Army and in the process recklessly putting them in harm’s way,” Posadas added.
The Army press release said, last June 27, 2009 47th Infantry Batallion soldiers under 2nd Lt. Leo Abulencia were attacked by the NPAs while en route to deliver seeds in Brgy. Aglinab.
Later that day, another team from Charlie Company of 47th IB led by Ssg Artemio Almeria, while tactically moving along a mountain range of the same Sitio, encountered more or less 15 fully armed NPAs. The exchange of fires lasted about 10 minutes with no casualties on the government side.
On June 29, 2009, a squad from Charlie Company, 47IB led by 2nd Lt. Abulencia again engaged more or less 15 fully-armed rebels believed to be under alias Kadoy of SDG Platoon, CFC, KR-Panay in vic Sitio Garu, Brgy. Acuña, Tapaz, Capiz.
The firefight initiated by the NPA lasted for about one hour and thirty (30) minutes.
The Army said Monday's encounter was already the fourth successive encounter in Tapaz since June 27.