Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar – The terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the province of Northern Samar attacked unarmed soldiers while enjoying their off duty swimming and washing clothes in the famous, “Pinipisakan Falls” in Brgy. San Isidro, Las Navas town late morning yesterday, November 22.
Based on the report reaching this headquarters from the commanding officer of the Army’s 63rd Infantry Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Joel Paloma, Technical Sergeant Edgardo Tahum and Sergeant Rennie Solis both members of 6th Field Artillery Battery were in their admin time washing their dirty clothes with five (5) innocent young people when fully armed terrorists opened fire at them.
Tahum was hit at his right knee and left foot and was later brought to HANJIN clinic for first aid treatment then rushed to Northern Samar Provincial Hospital for appropriate medication. Solis was unfortunately hit on his head that caused his instantaneous and untimely death while the five young people displaced the area covered with morbid fear and still in state of shock as of press time.
Pinipisikan Falls, a tourist destination in Northern Samar is about 300 meters away from the proper of Brgy San Isidro and about 21 km away from Las Navas. With the combined effort of the civilians in the area and the troops of 63IB, Solis’ body was recovered and brought to the 63IB’s headquarters in Opong, town of Catubig for proper disposition. Relatives are already informed about the incident.
Meanwhile, the commander 8ID Major General Mario Chan strongly condemns in the strongest possible terms the newest blatant violation of the terrorist NPA on human rights and international humanitarian law.
“These soldiers are not armed during that time and had no capacity to engage any armed confrontation. The act perpetrated by these terrorist is a clear manifestation of ill-respect to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), a total abuse of our people’s right that is deemed condemnable in the strongest possible terms,” declares Major General Chan.
“I challenge now the different human rights advocates who keep on barking over the violation of human rights to come into the open and eventually condemn this undoubtedly upsurge of human rights violation. Why don’t you bark once more and condemn these brutal godless monsters that mercilessly attacked the defenceless troops? Prove now that you are really for the human rights of the people, and not for the rights of these terrorists,” says General Chan.
“I am also appealing to our peace loving people to work hand-in-hand with the authorities to include media entities and various religious and people’s organization to take account our moral obligations to maintain harmony in the province. Let us all be united to condemn the drastic and brutal violation of our people’s right, not just for our own sake, but for our children and their children,” says General Chan.
Major General Chan also said that the attack made by the terrorist against unarmed soldiers is nothing but their desperate move to retaliate against the successive successful feat of the 8ID for the past few weeks particularly in the tri-boundary areas of the Samar provinces where the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) main camp fell in the hands of the government and assorted high powered firearms, war materiel, explosive materials, medical supplies & equipment, communications equipment, subversive documents and other high valued equipment and personal belongings were recovered.
These hopeless moves of bringing front lies and propaganda as well as sabotaging and brutal killing are just used by the NPA to project their false strength to the people and pretend to be winning their barbaric cause.
“I understand that the reason why they are doing these deeds targeting the soft targets is to make us loosen the grip of our intensified combat operations in the area that gradually drains their resources. This incident would not make our desire to stop insurgency in the province for the benefit of our people, instead we will continue to pursue these terrorists until finally put an end on their violent,” Chan adds.
“I would like to recognize the heroism paid for by our comrade-in-arms who died in the true spirit of peace and democracy. The highest regards of our people and our Armed Forces will be bestowed upon him. Although sad to note, my deepest condolences to the love ones left by Sgt Solis,” vows General Chan. ###
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