Press Release NPA attack injures two Lumads in Paquibato

December 14, 2011

CAMP PANACAN, Davao City- Two women from Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District were the latest victims of harassment committed by the members of the lawless armed group New Peoples Army on Tuesday night, December 13. At about 6:30 pm, Estila Resaba, wife of CAA Jerry Resaba and a mother to eight children, was immediately brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) when she became the casualty of NPA members who indiscriminately fired their firearms to militiamen in the Golden Shower Detachment in said barangay. Accordingly, she was inside their house about 100 meters away from the detachment when the reckless firing happened. The victim is now safe and is recuperating in SPMC while there was no casualty reported on the members of the militia. Simultaneously, a 44-year-old woman from the Ata Manobo Tribe was harassed after five NPA members, disguised in army uniform, went inside and ransacked her house in Brgy. Malabog, still in Paquibato. She was alone when the incident happened because her family attended a vigil of a village man who died recently. 10th Infantry Division Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Lyndon V. Paniza, said adding that the incident happened at 6:40 pm yesterday. The victims are civilians and base on CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law) they should not be subjected to indiscriminate gun firing (under its Part III (Respect for Human Rights), Article 2, paragraph 15). He also added that one of the victims was devastated after she was threatened by one of the NPAs. He also cited CARHRIHLs part IV (Respect for International Humanitarian Law), Article 4, paragraph 4 that civilian population and civilians shall be treated as such and shall be distinguished from combatants and, together with their property, shall not be the object of attack.

With what happened, there is an urgent need for our troops in the areas of Paquibato. We will also intensify our forces to secure the safety of civilians in every community, he said. -30Released by: LTC LYNDON V. PANIZA INF (GSC) PA Spokesperson 10th Infantry Agila Division, Philippine Army Contact # 0917-7110146 Email add: dpao10id@yahoo.com