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ILOILO City– Following the April 7 clash between government troops and rebels in SitioAguilan, Barangay Panuran, Lambunao, Iloilo the Philippine Army’s 3rd infantryDivision (3ID) and the New People’s Army (NPA) accused one another of violatingtheir respective unilateral ceasefire. OnMarch 25, the Communist Party of the Philippines (the political arm of theNPA), made a similar declaration and covering the same period. Therebels withdrew toward Barangay Agcarope, Janiuay town. They were believedto be from the Baloy Platoon, Central Front Committee, Kilusang RehiyonPanay of the NPA and led by Ka Kandoy. “Thesoldiers deployed in Lambunao were not fighters,” insisted 3ID spokespersonArmy Captain Cenon Pancito III. “We have no choice but to engage (the rebelsbecause we were) being attacked. Nandoonpa rin ang aming duty to protect the people.” Armysoldiers recovered from the encounter site a rifle and bullets. Theybelieved they were able to hurt or even kill some rebels, too, and this wasbolstered by reports from village residents. PrivateFirst Class Mark Nemias of Madalag, Aklan was killed. Ina statement, the NPA’s Coronacion Chiva “Waling-waling” Command claimed troopsof the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade (IB) fired at them first.
TheArmy soldiers and rebels exchanged fire at around 5:45 a.m. It lasted forsome 20 minutes. Accordingto the 3ID, troops of the 301IB were in the area for COVID-19 information disseminationbut the rebels fired at them. Noso, insisted the 3ID. OnMarch 19, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire until April15, citing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. “Peopleof the barangay reported have seen rebels carrying wounded or dead comrades,”said Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, director of the Iloilo PoliceProvincial Office./PN