NPA attacks unarmed
soldiers one hurt and killing another
By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
November
23, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan, Samar – The terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) operating
in the province of Northern Samar attacked unarmed soldiers while
enjoying their off duty swimming and washing clothes in the famous,
“Pinipisakan Falls” in Brgy. San Isidro, Las Navas town late morning
yesterday, November 22.
Based on the report
reaching this headquarters from the commanding officer of the Army’s
63rd Infantry Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Joel Paloma, Technical
Sergeant Edgardo Tahum and Sergeant Rennie Solis both members of 6th
Field Artillery Battery were in their admin time washing their dirty
clothes with five (5) innocent young people when fully armed
terrorists opened fire at them.
Tahum was hit at his
right knee and left foot and was later brought to HANJIN clinic for
first aid treatment then rushed to
Northern
Samar Provincial
Hospital
for appropriate medication. Solis was unfortunately hit on his head
that caused his instantaneous and untimely death while the five young
people displaced the area covered with morbid fear and still in state
of shock as of press time.
Pinipisikan Falls, a
tourist destination in Northern Samar is about 300 meters away from
the proper of Brgy San Isidro and about 21 km away from Las Navas.
With the combined effort of the civilians in the area and the troops
of 63IB, Solis’ body was recovered and brought to the 63IB’s
headquarters in Opong, town of Catubig for proper disposition.
Relatives are already informed about the incident.
Meanwhile, the
commander 8ID Major General Mario Chan strongly condemns in the
strongest possible terms the newest blatant violation of the terrorist
NPA on human rights and international humanitarian law.
“These soldiers are
not armed during that time and had no capacity to engage any armed
confrontation. The act perpetrated by these terrorist is a clear
manifestation of ill-respect to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect
for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), a
total abuse of our people’s right that is deemed condemnable in the
strongest possible terms,” declares Major General Chan.
“I challenge now the
different human rights advocates who keep on barking over the
violation of human rights to come into the open and eventually condemn
this undoubtedly upsurge of human rights violation. Why don’t you
bark once more and condemn these brutal godless monsters that
mercilessly attacked the defenceless troops? Prove now that you are
really for the human rights of the people, and not for the rights of
these terrorists,” says General Chan.
“I am also appealing
to our peace loving people to work hand-in-hand with the authorities
to include media entities and various religious and people’s
organization to take account our moral obligations to maintain harmony
in the province. Let us all be united to condemn the drastic and
brutal violation of our people’s right, not just for our own sake, but
for our children and their children,” says General Chan.
Major General Chan
also said that the attack made by the terrorist against unarmed
soldiers is nothing but their desperate move to retaliate against the
successive successful feat of the 8ID for the past few weeks
particularly in the tri-boundary areas of the Samar provinces where
the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) main camp fell in
the hands of the government and assorted high powered firearms, war
materiel, explosive materials, medical supplies & equipment,
communications equipment, subversive documents and other high valued
equipment and personal belongings were recovered.
These hopeless moves
of bringing front lies and propaganda as well as sabotaging and brutal
killing are just used by the NPA to project their false strength to
the people and pretend to be winning their barbaric cause.
“I understand that the
reason why they are doing these deeds targeting the soft targets is to
make us loosen the grip of our intensified combat operations in the
area that gradually drains their resources. This incident would not
make our desire to stop insurgency in the province for the benefit of
our people, instead we will continue to pursue these terrorists until
finally put an end on their violent,” Chan adds.
“I would like to
recognize the heroism paid for by our comrade-in-arms who died in the
true spirit of peace and democracy. The highest regards of our people
and our Armed Forces will be bestowed upon him. Although sad to note,
my deepest condolences to the love ones left by Sgt Solis,” vows
General Chan.