CTG KILLS CIVILIAN, DESTROYS EQUIPMENT IN SURSUR

Photo credit to 36IB, PA

Another violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) was committed by the Communis terrorist group (CTG) after they destroyed the civilianowned construction equipment and killed and severely wounded the caretakers in Lanuza town, Thursday evening, June 24.

The said incident was perpetrated by more or less 15 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) under Noel Tumarlas Alacre alias Meagan of Guerilla Front 30, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

The troops of the 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion (36IB) immediately responded to the said incident and briefly engaged the CTG. Two backhoes owned by a certain Mr. Paulo Lopez were damaged while three other equipment were safely salvaged by the responding troops.

Accordingly, the CTG harassed the Lanuza Municipal Police Station as a ploy to deliberately burn the target equipment located in a privately established construction base are about 350 meters away from the police station.

The perpetrators sporadically exchange

gunfire with the police for about 20 minutes while their cohorts simultaneously torched the heavy equipment being rented by JLMCI Construction for the bypass road construction in the said municipality.

The initial report stated that a watchman was killed by the CTG while another one was reportedly wounded during the attack.

The victims were identified as Aldren Daraman, 27, married, and Melvin Buniel, 28 both residents of Barangay San Roque of Madrid town. Daraman was killed on the spot while Buniel was rushed to Adela Serra Ty Memorial Center in Tandag City for immediate medical treatment.

In the statement of Lt. Col. Michael Rey Reuyan, Commanding Officer of the 36IB, said that the unfortunate incident was a desperate attempt of the CTG to disrupt the peace and development efforts of the government. He further said that it was a “treacherous act and anti-development tactics of the CTG to sow fear on the locals to survive their senseless revolution.”

On the other hand, Brigadier General George Banzon, Commander of 901st Infantry (Fight’Em) Brigade said that the destruction of civilian-owned heavy equipment that was not used for any military purpose perpetrated by the CTG was meant to pressure the companies to give in to their extortion demands.

He also cited that the destruction of privately-owned property and murder of noncombatants are all included in the provision that the Geneva Convention prohibits.

“What happened in Lanuza town manifests the true colors of the CPP-NPA-NDF. Their action affirmed their inclusion to the list of terrorist groups by the international community such as the United States, New Zealand, and by the European Union composed of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The incident will be added to the long list of war crimes they committed against our people over the years,” he said.

In addition, Brig. Gen. Banzon offered the sincerest condolences to the bereaved family of the killed victim. He said that continuous operation is being conducted to go after the perpetrators.

“We will press the fight against these ruthless murderers and violators of human rights to bring justice to our innocent people and to shield the peace-loving communities,” he said. (Capt. Joash Pramis, CMO-901st Bde, 9ID, PA/ PIA-Surigao del Sur)