Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 25) — The Philippine Army has reported that five people were killed after some “encounters” with members of a communist terrorist group (CTG) in Davao de Oro, as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) denied there was an actual clash.
“The AFP’s ‘encounter’ claim is an outright lie,” contested CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena on Twitter, Friday.
The Army’s 10th infantry Division earlier said its troops were involved in a “series of armed encounters” at Barangay Andap, New Bataan town, early Thursday morning, which claimed the lives of five people. It noted that the firefight lasted 15 minutes, after which the alleged communist terrorists withdrew, leaving behind weapons and personal belongings.
“We have warned them multiple times to peacefully surrender to the government. However, they chose to resist to continue the bloodshed that resulted to their demise,” 10th Infantry “Agila” Division Commander MGen Nolasco Mempin was quoted as saying.
“Together with their former comrades, we again urge the remaining members of the CTG to return to the folds of the law,” he added.
On the other hand, the CPP official urged families and friends of the victims to “uncover the facts surrounding their deaths and demand justice for their murders.”
