By Nino Luces
CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur - A soldier was killed, while six others were wounded when suspected New Peoples' Army (NPA) insurgents attacked the troopers of the 92nd Division Reconnaisance Company (92DRC) while conducting a security operation in Labo town, Camarines Norte province on Monday morning.
Major Ricky Aguilar, spokesperson of the Ninth Infantry Division (9ID), told The Manila Bulletin that the incident happened a few hours after the Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) took effect.
"Members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) launched another violent attack against the military hours after the declaration of Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) Monday, December 23," Aguilar said.
Aguilar said the troops were on their way back to Barangay Baay in Labo town when they were attacked by an undetermined number of NPA rebels that resulted in the death of a soldier and wounding of 6 others.
He said that the rebels fired at the troops, and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in the attack.
Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) under Major General Fernando Trinidad condemned the rebels' treacherous act and their gross violation of the ceasefire.
"The use of IED on the other hand was also a clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL)," Aguilar explained.
"Gen. Trinidad expressed his strong disappointment with the terrorist group's defiance of the agreed Christmas truce which aims to give Bicolanos a peaceful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This action is a clear manifestation of their deceptive and ill motives as well as their use of terror and violence to show their strength which, for so long a time, hampers the government's campaign to attain sustainable peace and development," he added.
It can be recalled that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee was the first to declare a truce and ordered all its guerilla units nationwide to stand down should the government declare its own Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO and Suspension of Police Operations (SOPO).
"JTFB maintains its stand to comply with the ceasefire and assured the public that it will not compromise their safety and security hence all military units are still on alert to preempt any atrocities that the CTG's plan to spread," Aguilar ended.