NPA rebels kill an Army soldier during SOMO

 

 

MIAG-AO, Iloilo – The New People’s Army (NPA) fired the first shot during the unilaterally declared ceasefire or SOMO (Suspension of Offensive Military Operations) implemented by the AFP starting at 1:00am  on December 16, 2012.

 A team of soldiers from the 3^rd Infantry Division (3ID) was conducting a routine security patrol within the perimeter of its detachment located in Sitio Anoy, Barangay Cabalaunan here, when a group of heavily armed bandits rained bullets on them at around 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday (Dec 17).

One soldier was wounded but later died while being transported to a local hospital. He was the lone casualty among the soldiers on patrol.

Maj Gen Jose Mabanta, Jr., Commander of 3ID said that while they are postponing deliberate offensive military operations, they will maintain their presence in their areas of responsibility to protect the people and the community.

“We will abide by the SOMO but it shall not hinder us from doing peace, development, and humanitarian assistance programs. Our commitment to peace shall prevail especially during this Christmas season. Communities should be given the opportunity to celebrate the Yuletide peacefully,” said Mabanta.

“As part of our defensive security operations, troops are now conducting hot pursuit operations against the perpetrators,” Mabanta said.

According to Col Arnold Quiapo, 301st Infantry Brigade Commander, said that aside from doing peace and development works, the soldiers are continuously conducting security patrols in order to protect the communities against armed attacks.

Security patrols are allowed in accordance to the policy guidelines regarding SOMO.

The yuletide season truce is offered to the NPA by the government as a gesture of sincerity in its pursuit for genuine peace, allowing unarmed rebels to spend christmas with their respective family members.

The military has denounced the NPA's continuous employment of armed attacks against government forces and hapless civilians.