NPA attacks Zambo troops in Covid drive anew

PAGADIAN CITY – Communist insurgents launched attacks anew on government soldiers distributing information leaflets on the new coronavirus, or Covid-19, in the southern Filipino province of Zamboanga del Norte, officials said Thursday.

Officials said soldiers from the 44^th Infantry Battalion clashed with the New People’s Army rebels in Tinuyop village in Leon Postigo town. There was no report of casualties on the military side in Wednesday’s fighting that lasted 15 minutes, said Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, the battalion commander.

The leaflets provide basic information on the virus and its symptoms, and how it spreads and how to avoid catching the deadly respiratory disease.

“Troops were tracking down the terrorists,” he said, adding, it was the 3^rd time since late last month that rebel forces assaulted soldiers helping in the government information drive in the villages in Zamboanga Peninsula.

He said rebels also attacked troops on April 12 in Pange village on Zamboanga del Norte’s Siayan town and in Penaranda village in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Kabasalan town on March 21.

Col. Leonel Nicolas, Commander, commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, said the rebel attacks will not hamper the military’s role in helping the government’s health efforts in the region. “Despite the recent setbacks in our campaign against Covid-19, our soldiers will continue to conduct public awareness efforts, among others in support to the Inter-Agency Task Force Covid-19,” he said.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a violent secessionist campaign in the country for many decades now. (Zamboanga Post)


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