ILOILO CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) slammed the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) for excessive use of force in the December 1 deadly attack against them in Miag-ao town, Iloilo province.
“The bombing resulted in immense destruction of the masses’ livelihood, damaged wildlife and environment, and had sown terror among civilians,” said the NPA’s Coronacion “Waling-Waling” Chiva Command Rehiyon Panay in a statement sent to the Iloilo media.
This was after the Philippine Air Force (PAF) augmented troops of the 301st Infantry Brigade (301 IB) and 61st Infantry Battalion (61 IB) in going after almost 70 NPA rebels in Barangay Alimodias.
Nine NPA rebels reportedly died including a high-ranking NPA official.
“Millions of funds were squandered to fight a small NPA unit that was conducting services to the people affected by hunger and the pandemic,” the NPA rebels added.
For the NPA, the use of air assets and ground artillery was “unreasonable, without honor and violates international laws” while also damaging the environment.
But the 3ID hierarchy refuted this.
Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander, reiterated that the use of force is justified.
Arevalo told Manila Bulletin that it is within the government’s power to use what they have at their disposal.
Arevalo also emphasized they were also thwarting a possible major attack of the NPA rebels as part of the preparation for the 53rd founding anniversary of its political unit, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), on December 26.