• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has assured the family of a slain CAFGU Active Auxiliary member in Escalante City, Negros Occidental that it would continue to support them.
Maj. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 3ID commander, said the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) troops were in Barangay Malasibog as part of the Community Support Program (CSP) and were not operating in combat mode when the encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) remnants occurred.
“The troops involved in the incident were not conducting combat operations when they were attacked,” he added.
Escanillas noted that during the encounter, some soldiers focused on responding to the armed attack while others worked to secure residents in the barangay.
“The good thing was that during the encounter, the troops were able to secure the residents,” he said.
Escanillas said the attacking force had the advantage of position during the encounter.
He described the incident as an isolated case, noting that Philippine Army personnel had been operating in the area for nearly two months without a similar incident.
Escanillas said that former NPA Northern Negros Front secretary Charity Amaca, who died in a clash with soldiers in April last year in Kabankalan City, and some rebels killed in the Toboso encounter, used to live in Barangay Malasibog.
He noted that the CSP focuses on helping communities identify and address unresolved issues at the barangay level, with the involvement of local government units and national government agencies.
“When issues in the barangay are not resolved, there is a tendency for residents to be exploited, and the insurgency problems simply continue in a cycle,” he added.
Escanillas, accompanied by Lt. Col. Eric Alfonso, 79IB commander, visited the wake of CAA Chris Jan Pahayahay at a memorial chapel in Sagay City on Thursday, Oct. 1.
He extended P300,000 financial assistance to the bereaved family.
Two soldiers were also injured in the attack.
Escanillas said the visit was also meant to show that the Philippine Army would not abandon its fallen community defender and his family.
Escanillas said they are assessing the current situation in the area, but stressed that the recent clash should not derail ongoing community support initiatives. | GPB
