Alleged NPA burn houses, church in Misamis Oriental

May 28, 2020

Alleged members of the New People's Army (NPAs) burned houses and torched a church in Misamis Oriental on Thursday morning.

Cpt. Rene Belmonte Jr., civil military officer of the  403rd Brigade, said the rebels torched four houses and a church located at Zone 2, Brgy Limonda, Opol municipality around 3:30 am.

"The NPA was headed by a certain alias Decoy of, Guerilla Front 12, Sub Regional Committee 5 (SRC5), North Central Mindanao Regional Committee that operates in the boundaries of Bukidnon, West Misamis Oriental and Iligan City," he said.

Belmonte said prior to the burning, the NPAs  forced  villagers to produce food items but the villagers refused.

"This enraged the NPAs who immediately set ablaze the church and houses," he said.

Belmonte said the four houses are owned by Edward Villarias, Ronny Tingkang, Edmar Burlat and Avelinon Sambulay, who are all barangay residents.

"The church building belongs to the Born Again Christian religious sect", he said.

Col. Ferdinand Barandon, 403rd Brigade commander, said the acts of the rebels are violations of the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and a crime  against humanity.

"We strongly condemn the NPA on this inhumane act and challenge Karapatan, who claims to be a human rights group, to do the same", he said.

Belmonte said Opol Municipal Mayor Maximino Seno pledged to help the victims.

He said Seno also asked the Army and the PNP to assist the LGU in providing the needs of the victims.

"The mayor also condemn the attacks of the NPA, specifically the burning of the structures since most of the residents in those areas are poor people," he said. Robina Asido/DMS