4ID troopers violated ceasefire pact –Ka Oris

January 31, 2010

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Mindanao communist rebels are accusing the Armed Forces’ Fourth Infantry Division (4ID) of violating the suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) during the holiday season not just once but twice.

In a statement, National Democratic Front in Mindanao (NDF-Mindanao) spokesperson Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos said the local military forces went against the Dec. 24-26 ceasefire agreement forged by their rebel organization and that of the Philippine government’s commander-in-chief Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He pointed out how elements of the 58th IB targeted and attacked the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) anniversary celebration of Front 30 in the hinterlands near Tago River, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

Madlos said last Dec. 25, a day before the actual celebrations, the local military forces set up a tactical command post (TCP) near the anniversary area to oversee offensive operations.

He pointed out how the next day, December 26, military forces were already positioned near the site celebration site of the 41st anniversary of the CPP.

“The organizing committee decided to forego the other parts of the program and reposition the guerrilla forces and the people who joined the celebration to avoid possible fire fight,” he said.

“But the enemy forces press on so that on the morning of Dec 27, a fire fight ensued between (unit of NPA) and (unit of AFP) and, as a result of this violation, at least one soldier was wounded on the part of the AFP. Having sustained casualty they want to get even by firing their 105 mm howitzer missing their target. Then, on Dec. 28, two helicopters were sent in to rescue their casualties,” he added.

Madlos said that, even before the SOMO, the AFP strategically deployed their forces in the vicinity of the main celebration of NDF-Mindanao “obviously with the plan to attack.”

On Dec. 25, he said units of the 58th IB and 41st DRC set up checkpoints at several strategic locations along the Surigao del Sur highway to intimidate and harass droves of people, allies and friends, and block them from joining the celebrations.

He said these checkpoints were at Brgys. Ganayon and Diatagon in Lianga, Poblacion and Brgy. Buhisan in San Agustin, and Brgy. Amontay in Marihatag town.

“Vehicles were flagged down before and after the activity. Some motorcycle drivers were subjected to psy-war tactics, and intimidated to extract information with regard to location of event,” he said.

Madlos said a day after the anniversary celebrations, a company size unit of the said units, with 2 armed personnel vehicles (APC), entered the site where the guerrillas held their celebration in the vicinity of Brgy. Mahaba, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur.

“But the NPAs have orderly moved out of the area to a safer place after all the invited media men and other guests have left,” he said.

He added that NPA units monitored all enemy columns and were under order not to fire their rifles against the enemy units in deference to the holiday celebration of the local residents.

Madlos voiced strong convictions that these two violations were with the go-ahead of President Arroyo herself.

He said the SOMO was “clearly laid like a trap to deceive revolutionary forces” and “somehow give the edge” for the AFP to launch offensive operations against the NPA by targeting certain areas where the CPP’s anniversary were being celebrated.

“Arroyo and the AFP wanted the public to believe that it had the sincerity and the will to suspend military offensives in the countryside, and give the people, especially the peasantry, deserved respite during the Christmas holiday,” he said.

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