Army Seizes Another NPA Rice Cache in Bukidnon

TALAKAG, Bukidnon – A total of 45 plastic containers filled with an estimated 15 sacks of rice were unearthed and seized by the troops of the 1st Special Forces Battalion under the 403rd Infantry Brigade near Sitio Mahusay, Brgy. Dominorog, Talakag, Bukidnon early dawn on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, around 5:30 am.

The troops of the 1st Special Forces Battalion conducted a security patrol in the area in response to the reports and complaints of concerned residents in the nearby communities who are already fed-up with the CPP-NPA Terrorist's extortion.

Moreover, these residents, who are mostly poor farmers in the area, claimed that
they are already fed up of being constantly forced by the CPP-NPA Terrorists to take up arms against the government as members of the Milisyang Bayan (MB).

These Milisyang Bayan members are also tasked to provide rice and food and carry such items to the mountains where they are then asked by the CPP-NPA Terrorists to bury said rice using 20-liters plastic water containers.

The CPP-NPA Terrorists have constantly violated the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) for forcing the civilians to become direct participants to hostilities and for constantly subjecting civilians to attacks and harassments.

Brigadier General Eric C Vinoya AFP, Commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, slammed the CPP-NPA terrorist leadership for maintaining a food cache containing a voluminous amount of rice to the expense of hungry farmers. He further called upon the residents in CPP-NPA Terrorists-affected communities to continue cooperating with the government troops in order to eradicate the threat of the said terrorist group once and for all.

"It is very unacceptable on the part of the CPP-NPA Terrorist leadership to allow their minions on the ground to do such shameful and abusive acts such as taking food from poor people who could hardly survive a day with food on their tables out of lies and deception. This is what terrorists are really good at," said General Vinoya.

"With this incident in Talakag, Bukidnon, I am extending my appreciation to our people who are residing in CNT-affected areas. We encourage you to continue cooperating with your Philippine Army and our Local Government Units and together, we will work hand-in-hand to attain peace in your communities," he added.

Source: 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, PA