By Davao Today
DAVAO CITY– The New People’s Army claimed they attacked an army headquarters in Mabini, Compostela Valley last August 5 killing six AFP troops and wounding five others.
They also captured one soldier two days before the attack.
A statement released Wednesday from the NPA Comval Davao Gulf Sub Regional Command said the attack was made to give “justice to two victims of extra-judicial killings and to peasant victims of AFP atrocities.”
“Members of the Military Intelligence Battalion under the 1001st Brigade-10th Infantry Division-AFP were responsible for the killing of Eddie Canon, a civilian and municipal coordinator of a progressive partylist group in Barangay San Isidro, Mawab town last May 25, and Ramil Lintas, a motorcycle driver of Barangay Calabcab, Maco town last July 25,” spokesperson Daniel Ibarra added.
Ibarra said on August 5 at 8 pm, they exploded a command-detonated bomb in the headquarters of the 71st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pangibiran, Mabini town.
The NPA also captured a soldier, Pfc. Rodello Canada Arigonan (serial number 776045), a utility personnel from the 1001st Brigade Headquarters last August 3, at 11pm near the military headquarters at Barangay Mapaang, Maco town.
Ibarra said Arigonan will be held custody as prisoner of war. He also said the NPA will “hold accountable elements of the reactionary armed force who continue to abuse poor peasants and indigenous peoples in the countryside.”
Ibarra further called the 71st IB as “child killer,” referring to its operation which killed eight-year old Roque Antivo in Mabini town last April and wounded two others. (davaotoday.com)
