CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided a village Thursday dawn and set ablaze a Born Again Christian church and four houses at Zone 2, Barangay Limonda in Opol town, Misamis Oriental.
“This dastardly act was strongly condemned by the residents in the area, particularly the members of the Born Again Christian Church,” said 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer Capt. Rene M. Belmonte, Jr.
He said the rebels, who stormed the village at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, was believed to be headed by a certain alias “Ka Decoy” of Guerilla Front 12 (GF 12) of Sub Regional Committee 5 (SRC5) of the CPP-NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) which operates in the boundaries of Bukidnon, West Misamis Oriental and Iligan City.
“Grabe ilang katawa, malipayon kaayo sila samtang nanunog, shaget pa silag mabuhi ang NPA samtang naglakaw,” (They were cheering and laughing while burning, they even cheered Mabuhay ang NPA on their way out of the village), said Capt. Belmonte, quoting the statement of the residents there.
“Dili mi magpadala sa ilang pagpanghadlok ug mao na ilang paglaum. Sumo nami nga sa unang panahon pangpatyon sab nila ang ilang mga masa dinhi sa amo human sila pangalagaran. Musukol mi kauban ang gobyerno,” (We will not be cowed if that is their intent, we are already used to them killing their mass base supporters after serving them during the old days),” the military officer said.
Prior to the burning incident, the rebels forced the villagers to produce food items, but they refused. “This enraged the CNTs (Communist New People’s Army Terrorists) who immediately set ablaze the church and four houses nearby, according to Belmonte.
After the incident, the perpetrators hurriedly left the area while shouting, “Mabuhay ang NPA!”.
Opol town Mayor Maximino B. Seno pledged to help the victims of the attack.
He asked the 403rd Brigade and the Philippine National Police to assist the local government unit (LGU) in providing the needs of the victims.
The mayor condemned the attacks of the NPA, specifically the burning of the structures, since most of the residents living in the area are poor people. (Mike U. Crismundo)
