DAVAO CITY — Suspected members of the New People’s Army rebels in Davao Oriental are reportedly forcing residents to give them some of the relief goods given by the government .
Residents of Barangay Mahan-ub in Bangaga town reported to the military that armed groups are forcing them to give some part of the ration.
But when the members of the Alpha Company of the 67th Infantry Battalion visited the area to validate the report, the rebels reportedly fired against the law enforcers which resulted to a 10-minute firefight on Black Saturday, April 11.
There was no casualty on the government side while the NPA rebels scampered and managed to escape.
In a press statement from the Davao Oriental Information Office, Governor Nelson Dayanghirang strongly denounced the recent atrocity committed by the Communist New People’s Army (NPA).
“What they did was a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement. While the government is at the thick of implementing measures to combat COVID-19, they still manage to do such acts. This is a lesson learned also that the government must no longer talk or make arrangements with CPP-NPA,” said Governor Dayanghirang.
Dayanghirang added that putting an end to the negotiations with the “reds” has been the stand of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) which he chairs.
Dayanghirang said that regardless of what had transpired, the government, especially the local government will continue its efforts to ensure the welfare of the people of Davao Oriental, underlining that the government will not be stopped on its efforts to protect the people from these terrorists and even from the invisible enemy– the dreaded COVID-19. Gov. Dayanghirang ensures that the momentum gained in the fight against COVID will continue.
