Despite a suspension of military operations in place due to the ongoing situation surrounding the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, the Philippine Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) accused New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents of harassing the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit active auxiliary detachment in Guihulngan City’s Barangay Sandayao last Thursday, after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an end to offensive operations against the rebel group.
According to 62IB commander, Lt. Colonel Melvin Flores, the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command initiated the harassment which was later thwarted by troops, forcing the rebels to flee towards the said neighborhood’s Sitio Palinion.
There were no reported casualties on the government side.
Flores said, despite the government’s declaration, the insurgents are not contributing to help Negrense and are just worsening the situation.
“This desperate and nonsense act is a clear manifestation of the Communist terror group’s insincerity to peace and desire to inflict casualties and sow terror on Negros,” the military official added./DGB, WDJ