By LITO RULONA
with BEN SERRANO
Correspondents
THE New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday accused the Army’s 4th Infantry Division of attacking and killing four rebels in San Luis, Agusan del Sur, the same day President Duterte restored his ceasefire declaration.
Allan Juanito, NPA spokesman for northcentral Mindanao, lashed out at the military, saying it could not be trusted despite Duterte’s order to restore his ceasefire declaration.
The Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front has also declared a ceasefire over the weekend.
Juanito accused soldiers froom the 26th Infantry Battalion under the 4th ID of attacking an NPA group in Sitio Kihinggay, Barangay San Pedro, San Luis town in Agusan del Sur.
Juanito said four rebels under the NPA’s Agusan del Norte-Agusan del Sur subegional command were killed while defending their positions during an alleged raid staged by government troops.
The NPA identified those killed as Winston “Ka Jerom” Mondejar, Henry “Ka James” Mansuconan, Jomar “Ka Alay” Tawide, and Abel “Ka Gabriel” Oliver.
Another rebel was allegedly wounded while the NPA group and government troops exchanged firepower.
Juanito said Oliver, one of the rebels slain, was able to detonate an explosive before he died, hurting at least 10 members of the 26th IB.
He said 26th IB troops have remained in Kihinggay village and some 26 barrios in Caraga for intelligence and psychological warfare operations.
In another statement, NPA spokesperson for Caraga Maria Malaya called for a suspension of military and police operations so the NPA can free four policemen and a civilian this Saturday.
Malaya said the captives could have been released by the NPA much earlier if only the military and police suspended their operations against communist rebels in the region.
The captives are PO1 Richard Yu of the Carmen police in Surigao del Sur who was seized in July 5, SPO3 Santiago Lamanilao of the Surigao city police, PO3 Jerome Bagayas, PO2 Khalid Senaca and PNP civilian employee Rodrigo Angub of the Malimono police in Surigao del Norte.
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