DOH slams NPA harassment of Masbate health team

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines  – Dr. Nestor Santiago, Department of Health regional director for Bicol, has condemned the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who fired at a health team Thursday afternoon while on board a motorized banca off Barangay Togoron in Monreal, Masbate.

“They were in a far-flung barangay to provide health care services to villagers who are suffering from water-borne diseases, malnutirition, tuberculosis and leprosy,” said Santiago during a press briefing at the Health Emergency Management office here Friday afternoon.

Santiago said the members of the health team were on board M/B Agoo when NPA rebels fired an M-203 grenade, which exploded some 300 meters from the motorized banca they were riding, and strafed them with M-16 rifle for 10 minutes.

However, Santiago said health assistance to Monreal town will continue despite the harassment by NPA rebels. Monreal is a fourth class coastal municipality in Masbate’s Ticao Island.

Superintendent Wilson Asueta, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police in Bicol, said the 32 nd Special Action Force and elements of the 9 th Infantry Batallion immediately conducted hot pursuit operations against the communist rebels.