DND hits NPA for attacking Masbate schools
Published Mar 24, 2023 05:39 am
The Department of National Defense (DND) slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) on Friday, March 24, for allegedly launching attacks near schools in Masbate which disrupted classes and terrified students and faculty members.
“Communist terrorist groups” (CTGs) conducted a series of attacks and even detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near schools and in public areas in the towns of Placer, Kawayan, and Dimasalang on March 20 and 22, military reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed.
“By committing atrocities such as the use of improvised explosive devices near schools and in public areas, the CTG has placed our people in harm’s way. Their utter lack of conscience truly shows that they are desperate in their vain efforts to project a false façade of relevance and strength,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.
On March 20, elements of the 22nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) conducted a security operation in Barangay Villahermosa, Cawayan after receiving a report that armed men were seen in the vicinity area of the village. An encounter took place between the troops and around 12 gunmen which resulted in the death of Corporal Antonio Parreno Jr.
On March 22, another encounter occurred in Barangay Locso-on, Placer which injured two soldiers while an IED explosion wounded two policemen in Brgy. Gaid, Dimasalang.
“These incidents caused fear in the nearby schools and communities,” said Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesperson.
Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte expressed alarm on Thursday, March 23, due to the activities of communist groups in Masbate. She said the attacks have already reached an “alarming rate” which caused learning disruption in the province.
In response, Andolong said a whole-of-nation approach must be conducted “to collectively protect our communities as well reject and denounce the wilting CTG and their dwindling supporters.”
Meanwhile, Aguilar said that the AFP will intensify their anti-communist campaign to support DepEd’s mission to protect the right of every Filipino to quality, equitable, culture-based and complete basic education.
He also emphasized everybody’s shared responsibility to provide a secured environment that is “free from intimidation, coercion, and possible recruitment by members of violent extremists from our schools and civilian communities.”