Arteche Mayor survives terrorist NPA’s attack

By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
February 27, 2011

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  Few days after the termination of temporary truce to give way the peace negotiation abroad between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), their terrorist wing New People’s Army (NPA) resumed their evil desires by waylaying the municipal mayor of Arteche, Eastern Samar late morning yesterday that had killed one police officer, and wounding 3 other policemen and one civilian.

In the report that reached to this headquarters, around 10:15 yesterday morning when Mayor Rolando Evardone escorted by the PNP Regional Mobile Group (RMG) under Police Inspector Al Tanciado on board nine (9) motor cycles were traversing the road towards Sitio Tangbo of the said municipality to raid the reported on going illegal cock fighting, a sudden burst of improvised explosive device followed by the heavy volume of fire occurred.

As a result, Inspector Tanciado, the RMG team leader was killed while his other three (3) members identified as PO1s Elmer Tesado, Kenneth Tafalla and Sherwin Furtgada were wounded and a habal-habal driver, Noe Operario were reported wounded during the ambush and are now in the Arteche District Hospital for medical treatment.

Troops of the Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion and 52nd Cadre Battalion had dispatched their respective troops to conduct present operations.  Troops are still in the area as of press time.

Meanwhile, Major General Mario Chan, 8ID’s chief strongly condemned in the strongest possible terms the newest insincerity of CPP-NPA-NDF to pursue the peace initiatives in the higher level.  Since the enemy is continuously using the destructive improvised explosive devices (IED) which is banned and condemned globally, they are just showing that the existing human rights and international humanitarian law are taken for granted and disrespected sincerely by the CPP-NPA-NDF.

“Another civilian has once again hurt in this NPA’s brutality. I can say that Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) is very much unworthy to them and they just consider it as a plain literature.  Civilians who are not directly involved in armed conflict should not be subjected as target. This is a very serious violation of our people’s rights that is deemed condemnable in the strongest possible terms,” declares Major General Chan.

Major General Chan also said that the 8th Infantry Division under his watch will always be committed to continuously uphold the Constitutional thrusts despite insincerity of the other party. The 8ID thru their field units is now conducting constant coordination with the PNP to run after the perpetrators and let them face the charges bounded by the law.

“This incident calls for a serious effort to stop insurgency in the whole Eastern Visayas for the benefit of our people.  May all the people particularly in this place be united to act as one and cry out for the genuine peace and justice to all victims of the disrespect to the peoples’ rights and humanitarian law.  Let the whole citizenry speak up to continuously pursue these terrorists until finally we could put an end on their violence,” Chan adds.