• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has defended the operations of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental and called for accountability from those who have criticized military actions against communist insurgents following the death of a soldier in Escalante City.
PFC John Rey Brasil, 29, was fatally shot in the head while leading the troops in conducting pursuit operations against five remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA), whom they encountered on June 1 in Sitio Cagayanon 1, Barangay Tamlang, Escalante City.
Teodoro, who flew from Cagayan de Oro City to visit the wake of the fallen soldier on June 3 in Sagay City, said Brasil and his comrades were pursuing rebels who fled toward populated communities, placing civilians in danger by using them as human shields.
He challenged critics of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to face the family of the slain soldier and explain why his sacrifice should be disregarded.
“Those who question the operations of the Philippine Army should face the family of this young soldier and tell them that his sacrifice was not justified,” the Defense chief said.
Teodoro challenged those protecting the group of slain rebel leader Roger Fabillar Tapang to also conduct their investigation as to the death of Brasil.
Tapang was among the 19 rebels killed during the encounter in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso on April 19.
Lt. Col. Eric Alfonso, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, told Teodoro that rebel remnants encountered by his troops on June 1 form part of the group of Tapang.
Teodoro said the military had repeatedly called on the armed rebels involved in the Toboso clash to surrender, but they chose to fight government forces instead.
He stressed that the latest encounter validates the military’s long-standing claims that government troops are targeting armed rebels and not civilians.
Teodoro added that military operations are intelligence-driven and focused solely on armed insurgents.
“The AFP is only after the armed group. We are tracking them down to the last man,” he said, adding that operations against the insurgents will continue.
Teodoro also appealed to communities to support the military’s campaign against the NPA.
“Communities and local government units should stand up and make it clear that they do not want the NPA in their areas. The Army will continue to help them,” he said.
Teodoro warned that failure to confront the insurgency could allow armed groups to evolve into warlord-like organizations.
He reiterated that rebels still have the option to surrender, but stressed that security forces would not stop pursuing armed insurgents who continue to engage in violence.
“We will continue hunting them. They can surrender if they choose,” he said. | GB
