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NPA attacks on Surigao Norte town condemned

By Alexander Lopez

January 28, 2021, 9:03 pm

<p>Google map of Sison, Surigao del Norte.</p>

Google map of Sison, Surigao del Norte.

BUTUAN CITY – Officials and residents have condemned the attacks perpetrated by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on the Surigao del Norte town of Sison on Thursday.

An undetermined number of fully-armed NPA guerrillas simultaneously harassed the municipal police station of Sison and the residence of the town’s mayor at around 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

 The Sison Municipal Police Station (SMPS) and the Army's 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) repulsed the attacks.

No one was hurt on the side of government forces, the police report said.

In an interview with reporters, Mayor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia said her family was also safe after the attack.

Paronia condemned the NPA for the harassments, saying the incidents added to the anxiety of residents who are already reeling from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a statement, the local police condemned the harassment at the police station as it took place while the town's senior citizens were at the premises of the nearby municipal hall to receive their government pensions.

The local police branded the attack as "terroristic acts that put in great danger the lives of ordinary civilians".

Two residents interviewed by the Philippine News Agency on Thursday also denounced the NPA for the attack.

“I was so worried for my mother, who was already at the senior citizen building, to claim her pension when the attack happened. I tried to proceed there to check on her situation but failed due to the heavy gun fires,” said the resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons.

“We immediately calmed her down and gave her some medicine. We suspect her blood pressure shot up during the incident,” she added.

Another resident, a businessman who also requested not to be identified, said his children were crying because of fear from the gunfire.

“We are peaceful citizens, and all we wanted is to live peacefully here. What the NPA rebels have done today only angered us. We salute our police officers and the Army; we support our troopers,” the businessman said.

Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco T. Matugas also condemned the NPA for disturbing the peace in the area.

The incidents, Matugas said, only exacerbated the fear and apprehensions brought by the pandemic. (PNA)

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