Dagdag tropa ikakalat sa Mindanao

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 23, 2010) – Nagdagdag ng malaking bilang ng mga sundalo ang militar sa Mindanao para sa isang malaking opensiba laban sa New People's Army na siyang nasa likod ng maraming atake sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng magulong rehiyon sa katimugan.

Sinabi ni Army Captain Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman ng 10th Infantry Division, na dumating kahapon ang 71st Infantry Battalion at ikakalat ang mga ito sa Davao Oriental at isa pang battalion ng Special Forces at Scout Ranger ang nakatakdang dumating sa Mindanao upang tugisin ang mga rebeldeng komunista.

"Davao region has been peaceful in the recent elections until peace is destroyed by the New People's Army in Maragusan massacre, abductions have been committed largely by this terror group. They have been planting bombs on the roads and bridges and recently they ambushed soldiers near a populated place in Toril (District) in Davao City which put the lives of civilians in great danger."

"We cannot go on like this, we cannot let such despicable acts go on unpunished. The Armed Forces of the Philippines vowed to the clamor of the people to bring these terrorists to justice. It is therefore paramount that the people will be informed that additional troops will be deployed in the region to pursue the terrorists," pahayag ni Garcia sa Mindanao Examiner.

Nuong Sabado lamang ay 3 sundalo ang napatay ng NPA sa ambush sa Barangay Barakatan sa Toril District sa Davao City.

“The ambush showed the treachery and utter disregard of the New People’s Army to human lives, particularly civilians, who might have been hit by bullets as there are houses a few hundred meters away from the soldiers,” dagdag pa ni Garcia.

At sa loob lamang ng 6 buwan ay pitong katao ang nasawei at 12 iba pa ang sugatan sa atake ng NPA sa bayan ng Maragusan sa Compostela Valley at bayan ng Boston sa Davao Oriental.

Walang pahayag ang NPA ukol sa mga bintang ng militar, ngunit bihag pa rin nito sina Army Corporals Marcial Bawagan, Ariel Asumo, Eduardo Alcala at militiaman Victor Pitogo matapos na madakip sa bayan ng Mawab sa Compostela Valley nuong Mayo12 habang nasa isang birthday party. (Mindanao Examiner)