People are fed up with NPA, says Guingona

GINGOOG Mayor Marie Guingona yesterday hurled brickbats at the New People’s Army (NPA) for staging an attack in Sitio Palo, Barangay Hindangon in Gingoog that resulted in the deaths of three militiamen on Sunday night.

“The people are fed up with the continued harassments by the NPA. Every time there are development projects for the people, they harass people,” said Guingona whose mother Ruthie, a former Misamis Oriental governor and Gingoog mayor, survived an NPA ambush in 2013.

The mayor expressed grief over the deaths of militiamen Fernando Abao, 31, and his brother Perry, 44, and Alfredo Sarno, 63.

Guingona said the militiamen were riding a motorcycle on their way to their military detachment in Barangay Hindangon when they were stopped and killed by rebels. The attack resulted in a 40-minute sporadic exchange of firepower between rebels forces and soldiers from the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion.

“The NPAs say they are for the people but they are, in fact, indiscriminately attacking innocent civilians and wrecking havoc in the land to thwart any development which benefits the people,” Guingona said.

She cited the July 11 NPA attack in Barangay Alagatan in Gingoog where a soldier was killed and where another, Pfc. Adonis Lupeba, was taken captive by the NPA. Guingona said innocent civilians were traumatized as a result of the rebel attack.

Guingona said many people in the outlying villages of her city were no longer cooperating with the government so projects could be implemented for fear of the NPA.

She said the NPA attack in Alagatan has discouraged citizens from helping city hall implement a P1.7-million waterworks project for the village.

Guingona said Sunday’s attack would likely jeopardize a government road project from Gingoog to Malaybalay City in Bukidnon. (nitz arancon)