Davao Oriental: Five (5) members of the New Peoples Army fired at 76th Infantry Battalion troops while conducting security patrol and information drive in relation to COVID- 19 activities 10:20 in the morning last April 11, 2020. The said incidents happened in Sityo Tagtigbao, Barangay Mahan-ub Baganga Davao Orinetal.
Prior to the encounter, the 67th IB troops were having dialogue with the populace of sitio Tagtigbao and sitio Casunugan when one NPA member alias RonRon voluntarily surrendered with high-powered firearm to the Patrol base Commander of Delta Company 76th Infantry Battalion.
Likewise, one of the residents of sitio Tagtigbao spilled information that there were presence of NPA who were forcing the civilians to give them a portion of the distributed relief goods from the Government. Relatively, Alias RonRon corroborated that there were still other members meandering around the area.
Acting on the said information, 2nd Leutenant Joseph de Leon (INF) PA. Platoon Leader Alpha Company together with two squads, conducted security patrol to validate the said report. After which, the troops were fired upon by five (5) NPA Members at the vicinity of sitio Tagtigbao, Barangay Mahan-ub Baganga Davao Oriental. The firefight lasted ten minutes with no casualty on the government side, whereas, the NPA’s were unsuccessful and scampered in southwest direction of the area.
Furthermore, the declaration of the unilateral ceasefire by the Government started on March 26, 2020 to address the call of U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres to focus our efforts and resources in fighting the Pandemic COVID-19. It was clear that what happened was a violation of the said agreement.
“ Taliwala sa atong pag obserba sa Semana Santa, ang gibuhat sa NPA nagpamatuod nga dili sila matinud-anon sa kasabutan ug wala nila gihatagan ug bili ang pagpaningkamot sa atong Gobyerno batuk sa pagsugpo sa kresis nga atong giatubang”.
“ Ilang gipakita ang way ayo nga prinsipyo ug katuuhan ug mas nagpatigbabaw ang ilang political agenda na gubaon ang atong Gobyerno. Sa Dugang pa, ang nakapasubo pag-ayo kay nag antos na ang katawhan ug nagsalig sa ayuda sa Gobyerno, gusto pa ilugon sa mga NPA. Rest Assured that despite of concentrating our efforts to combat this Pandemic COVID- 19, the 67th Infantry Battalion will remain steadfast in fighting insurgency in the Province of Davao Oriental” LTC. Dema-Ala, 67th IB Commanding Officer said.