Military probes death of 9-year-old in Compostela Valley encounter

DAVAO CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is investigating the death of a nine-year-old child in an encounter between government troops and communist insurgents in Barangay Kahayag, New Bataan, Compostela Valley last Saturday.

Grecil Galacio was killed in the encounter near their house in Barangay Kahayag.

Initial reports from the Army’s 10th Infantry Division claimed that Grecil was actually firing at the platoon of soldiers from the 67th Infantry Battalion who clashed with a team of at least 15 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area.

But the girl’s parents claimed that the girl was not a member of the NPA but was hit by a stray bullet.

Army 1001st Infantry Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza said a probe is now ongoing. – Edith Regalado