Manila, Philippines – Over 700 people, mostly from the Iraya Mangyan tribe in Abra de Ilog town in Occidental Mindoro, have received humanitarian aid and stress debriefing after an encounter between the military and insurgents displaced them, the Philippine Army said on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
Military operations against the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), continued throughout the holidays with casualties from both sides reported during the past weeks.
By the 203rd Infantry Brigade’s estimate, 719 people or 174 families were displaced in Barangay Cabacao and are staying at the Cabacao National High School covered court.
“Agaran naman ang aksyon ng mga kasundaluhan upang matulungan at matugunan ang pangunahing pangagailangan ng mga residenteng lumikas upang maibsan ang kanilang takot at gutom sa gitna ng krisis dulot ng teroristang grupo,” the 203rd Infantry Brigade said in a statement.
“Nagsagawa rin ng pulong-pulong o Stress debriefing ang kasundaluhan sa naturang residente upang mapawi ang kanilang takot na naramdaman,” it added.
[TRANSLATION: The troops swiftly moved to help and extend aid to the displaced residents to ease their fear and hunger amid this crisis brought by the terrorist group.
We also convened a stress debriefing for the said residents to relieve their anxiety.]
Former Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, a leader from Mindanao’s indigenous group Lumad, condemned what she described as “aerial bombing and large-scale military operations” in Abra de Ilog on Jan. 1.
“The killing of Mangyan-Iraya children and youth, the injury of civilians, and the mass displacement of families were direct results of AFP aerial bombing and strafing, not the outcome of any armed encounter,” she said in a statement.
Cullamat said the military operations were a repeat of what happened in Talaingod municipality in Mindanao “where Lumad schools and villages were falsely labeled ‘NPA schools’ and ‘NPA communities’ to rationalize raids, closures, arrests, and killings.”
“The bombing in Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro must be understood alongside economic interests driving militarization in Abra de Ilog, including mining operations by Agusan Petroleum, the planned 375-megawatt Abra de Ilog Wind Energy Project, and the privatization of the Luyang Baga Cave for ecotourism – projects opposed by communities and consistently preceded by military buildup,” the statement added.
‘MISLEADING’
On the other hand, the army said Cullamat’s remarks were “misleading allegations.”
“These are all old propaganda by the CPP/NPA/NDF to deceive the people,” army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a statement in response to NewsWatch Plus’ query on Wednesday.
He said the operation in Abra de Ilog was a “legitimate, intelligence-driven mission” against communist terrorist group members whom tribal leaders reported were a threat to security and livelihood.
“Air support was used only to protect troops on the ground, in full compliance with the Rules of Engagement and with strict regard for civilian safety. No civilian communities were targeted,” the army statement read.
YOUNG RECRUIT KILLED
Militant groups earlier sought a fact-finding mission in so-called hot zones, but the army said this was a smokescreen to extricate and bail the insurgents’ leaders and recruits.
The CPP-NPA held its annual meeting during its Dec. 26 anniversary in Occidental Mindoro, during which new recruits, mostly college students, underwent immersion, the army said during Tuesday’s separate briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
“Dahil yung nangyaring plenum sa Occidental Mindoro may malalaking tao doon kaya pinipilit nilang ipahinto yung combat-focused military operations ng Philippine Army to ensure itong kanilang mga taong ito ay makalabas dun sa area,” Dema-ala said.
“That is why tuluy-tuloy yung ating focused military operations dun to ensure na ma-neutralize yung leader nila,” he added.
[TRANSLATION: The plenum held in Occidental Mindoro involved bigwigs so they insist on a ceasefire to stop the combat-focused military operations of the Philippine Army to ensure that their leaders could be extricated from the area (of operations).
That is why we continued our focused military operations there to ensure the leader will be neutralized.]
A college student from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) was killed during the encounter, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said in a statement.
“We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Jerlyn Rose Doydora. No family should have to bury a child, and no young Filipino should be lured away from school and home into armed conflict,” the statement read.
The NTF-ELCAC said Doydora “was not simply a student caught in crossfire,” dismissing the narrative of militant groups.
“Based on information and verification received by authorities on the ground, she had already been drawn into the New People’s Army (NPA),” the agency said.
“This does not lessen the tragedy, it defines it: a tragedy of radicalization and recruitment, where a young life is taken from civilian pathways and brought into armed violence.”
FLOOD CONTROL SCANDAL, RADICALIZATION
The PLM, said on Sunday, Jan. 4, without naming Doydora, that it had “no prior knowledge of” and did not authorize any fieldwork or immersion of its students.
Among the issues raised by the CPP-NPA is the corruption scheme uncovered during congressional hearings and an independent probe involving flood control contracts, the army said.
The army has asked schools and universities to help contain the number of students joining the decades-old insurgency, Dema-ala said.
“Our priority now is to help secure the safe recovery of the other students reportedly involved, through lawful, coordinated, and responsible efforts, and to bring them back to their families,” the NTF-ELCAC said in a statement.
