BUTUAN CITY — The NPA Terrorists Violated the only agreement that the CPP-NPA-NDF had so far signed with the government, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect to Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), when they swooped down a peaceful community of Sitio Sarog, Barangay San Isidro, Santiago town of Agusan del Norte and killed two civilians, wounding three others and killed one soldier at around 5 A.M, 11 February 2017.A report was earlier received by the 29th Infantry Battalion about the presence of the said extortionist-terrorists in the area.
“There is a situation in that community that needs to be addressed that is why I have sent my soldiers to secure the people against these NPAs.” Ltc Glenn Joy Aynera, 29IB Commanding Officer on his statement.
Upon reaching the said community at around 4:30 A.M., troops were able to talk with some locales to confirm the said report. However, unmindful of the civilians in the area, more or less ten (10) fully-armed NPA terrorists indiscriminately opened fire against the troops. Two (2) civilians and one (1) soldier were badly hit that caused their instantaneous death while three (3) other civilians were wounded.
The harassment lasted for about ten (10) minutes before the NPAs withdrew towards the nearby communities.
The government troops immediately applied first aid to the wounded civilians and facilitated their delivery to the nearest hospital, and conducted combat clearing operations.
Ltc Aynera said “This is a clear violation of the CARHRIHL which is duly signed by the GPH and NDFP in 1998 at The Hague, The Netherlands that Civilian population and civilians shall be distinguished from combatants and, together with their property, shall not be the object of attack. They shall likewise be protected against indiscriminate strafing.”
“We condemn their atrocious act which claimed the lives of two innocent civilians, and seriously wounding three others. We are also deeply saddened for the lost of one of our comrades. Rest assured we will always continue to conduct peace and security operations to ensure the safety and security of the people in Agusan del Norte.” Ltc Aynera Concluded.
Pursuit operation is ongoing to capture the perpetrators of the said crime.
