Military hits NPA rebels for human rights breach

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Army has scored the New People's Army in Panay for continued violation of human rights.

Major Ray Tiongson, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the NPA has violated the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for human Rights and International Humanitarian Law when it fired upon the soldiers and civilians Thursday afternoon in a populated area at Tubungan, Iloilo.

Soldiers on board two vehicles of the 82nd Infantry Battalion were traversing Barangay Mayang, from a medical mission in Leon town together with a military ambulance and a civilian vehicle of Operation Blessing, an international humanitarian organization, when an undetermined number of NPA rebels opened fired at the convoy. — Jennifer P. Rendon

A five-minute firefight ensued. There was no reported casualty on government troops and civilians.

"This is another violation of CARHRIHL committed by the CPP-NPA which the communist group is a signatory. We regret that despite our efforts to bring the necessary assistance to the people, this is the answer of the CPP-NPA," said Tiongson, as he strongly condemned the NPA's treacherous act. — Jennifer P. Rendon

On July 1, the military accused the CPP-NPA of violating the CARHRIHL after it set off an improvised explosive device along the highway at Brgy Nalundan in Guimbal, Iloilo. The incident injured two soldiers and two civilians. (FREEMAN)