MAJOR General Eric Vinoya, the Commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division condemned the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) in Negros Oriental for staging violent action against the government troops who are busy helping Negrenses in its fight against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
This, after the undetermined number of communist-terrorists positioned at estimated 250 meter-distance away from the target, fired their guns towards a CAFGU Active Auxiliary patrol base in Barangay Sandayao, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental at about 9:00 PM on March 19, 2020.
The alleged harassment happened after the President and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire against the CTGs beginning first hour of March 19, 2020 and ending on the 24th hour of April 15, 2020.
The declaration was anchored on the sovereign authority and mandate of the government to promote, uphold and protect the general welfare of the people and the national interest of the entire country especially in times of crises.
The ceasefire was deemed necessary as both moral and legal obligation as it will facilitate the refocusing of the state's security forces efforts from primarily security functions, towards securing the general public's health and welfare of the people and unifying the entire of the government bureaucracy to overcome the pandemic threats of Covid-19 infections that the country is facing together with rest of the world.
"How can the rebels who always boastfully claim that they are the defenders of the masses commit such inhumane act especially in times like this where our country is facing health crisis? Instead of helping those in the frontliner by not staging any terroristic activities or even by staying in their respective lairs, they still chose to conduct offensive action against the government forces. It is a public knowledge that most of our troops were deployed to conduct monitoring and border regulations to contain the spread of the disease, hence, they took advantage of the situation, but they failed to do so," Vinoya emphasized.
The alleged harassment lasted for almost two minutes. After which, the perpetrators withdrew towards Sitio Palinaon of same barangay. No casualty on the government side was reported.
"The harassment confirms the truth we already knew a long time ago; that they are the true minions of evil, the epitome of all bad and ugly that are left on this world to continue the satanic actions of the devil of sowing chaos among the peace loving populace," Vinoya said.
Vinoya further said that the NPAs Leonardo Panaligan Command in Negros has always been very pretentious as an organization that champions the will of the people where in fact its true color is it does not really care about the lives of the people and the survival of the Filipino nation, which includes members of the CTG who might already be or will be infected with Covid-19.
"Their senseless actions are exposing their true intention, which is to derail or sabotage at all cost whatever is good for the well-being and future of our people in order to promote their personal interests."
Vinoya called on the Negrenses especially the remaining members of the CPP-NPA Terrorists in Negros Island to set aside all differences and conflicts for the common good even only during this tough time.
"If you can't extend help to those working in the frontline, just discontinue all of your insignificant activities; by doing this you can help prevent the spread of the virus," the Army Commander added.
