By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent
BUTUAN City — Ka Ariel Montero, spokesperson of the Regional Operational Command New People’s Army-Northeastern Mindanao Region in an official press statement here in Caraga Region said the report of the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Rico Amaro that encounter ensued between his troops and NPA front 16 in March 8 evening was a “big lie.”
“Not one among the NPA forces were in the area during that time. The gunfire came from his own troops. It is obvious that the 30th IB troops fired upon each other during their patrol on that night which resulted in the killing of Pfc. Jhon Francis Rivera and the wounding of Pfc. Windyl Daayata,” Montero said.
It can be recalled that in military report, Amaro claimed that the Sanda-tahang Yunit Pampropa-ganda-Lumad of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 16 under a certain Ka Ricky was behind the attack. Amaro also claimed it was same group and in the same barangay where PFC Erwin Salan was abucted on Jan. 29.
Montero, in an earlier press statement, said the NPA rebels were suppose to release Salan but instead of giving leeway for safe release, Amaro’s troops allegedly continued harassing their combatants.
The NPA rebels alleged that the Budlingin incident was not the first time that the Army allegedly gave false information to the public adding the Army is doing everything to spread lies.
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