BOMBING VICTIMS. Passersby rescue tricycle passengers who are seriously wounded by an explosion perpetrated by the New People's Army in Libuton village in Borongan City, Eastern Samar Friday afternoon (Dec. 13, 2019). A junior police officer and an old woman were killed while four policemen and 12 civilians, including three minors, were injured in the incident. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Genelex Deloria)
TACLOBAN CITY -- Family members of one of the victims of the New People’s Army’s (NPA) bomb attack in Eastern Samar last Friday are seeking justice as they asked the government to put an end to decades-old insurgency in the country.
Dario Rapada, 44, told the Philippine News Agency on Saturday that the rebel group should stop conducting treacherous attacks that have killed and wounded civilians, including the elderly and children.
The father of three is the husband of Mary Grace Rapada, 39, who suffered head fractures when NPA rebels detonated an improvised explosive device along a section of the primary highway in Libuton village, Borongan City at about 3 p.m.
Mary Grace was heading home to San Julian town from the city onboard a tricycle when rebels detonated the explosive intended for a passing police patrol car. She is one of the civilians wounded in the attack and is now confined at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City.
“We don’t really understand what they’re fighting for, but we are suffering from their attack against the government,” said Dario, a gasoline station cashier in Borongan City, the capital of Eastern Samar province.
He initially heard the news about the explosion but it was already 5 p.m. when he learned that his wife was one of those injured and rushed to the provincial hospital.
The mother of Mary Grace, Myrna Salameda, 64, also appealed to the government to help all those who were killed and injured to attain justice.
“What do they want from us? We are innocent yet we suffered!” Salameda said.
A junior police officer and an old woman were killed while four other policemen and 12 civilians, including three minors, were injured during the attack.
The policemen, who were from the 1st Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company based in Dolores town, were on board a patrol car heading to Borongan City while the civilians were riding a van and two tricycles.
Killed were Patrolman Mark Jerome Rama and Agripena Traboco, 69, a resident of San Julian town. Injured were Patrolmen Angelito Loterte, Rick Capoquian Jr., Rey Sobrepenia, and Kevin Operario.
Some of the other wounded civilians were identified as Jacob Chicano, 35; Marrian Esposa, 20; Carlito Esposa, 65; Mark Balayanto Cantos, 18; Florence Traboco, 39; Ma. Lilisania Obina 34; and Hector Lemer Obina, 35.
Three hurt minors are aged one, six, and 13 years old.
The military has repeatedly condemned the NPA for using explosives in their attacks, showing disrespect for basic human rights.
The communist group also disregards the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
