• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. defended the operations of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental, and called for accountability from those who criticized military actions against communist insurgents, following the death of an Army soldier in Escalante City.
PFC John Rey Brasil, 28, was fatally shot in the head, while leading his troops in conducting pursuit operations against five remnants of the New People’s Army that they encountered on June 1 in Sitio Cagayanon 1, Barangay Tamlang, Escalante City.
Teodoro, who flew from Cagayan de Oro to visit the wake of the fallen soldier on June 3 in Sagay City, disclosed PFC Brasil and his companions were pursuing fleeing rebels, who fled toward populated communities, placing civilians in danger, by using them as human shields.
He challenged critics of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to face the family of the slain soldier and explain why his sacrifice should be disregarded.
“Those who question the operations of the Philippine Army should face the family of this young soldier and tell them that his sacrifice was not justified,” the Defense Chief said.
Teodoro also challenged those protecting the group of slain rebel leader Roger Fabillar, alias Jhong, to also conduct investigations into the death of PFC Brasil.
Fabillar was among the 19 suspected rebels killed in the April 19 series of encounters in Brgy. Salamanca, Toboso.
Lt. Col. Eric Alfonso, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, told Teodoro that the rebel remnants encountered by his troops on June 1 form part of the group of Fabillar.
Teodoro said the military had repeatedly called on the armed rebels involved in the Toboso clash to surrender, but they chose to fight government forces instead.
The latest encounter, he stressed, validates the military’s long-standing claims that government troops are targeting armed rebels and not civilians.
He also emphasized that military operations are intelligence-driven and focused solely on armed insurgents.
“The AFP is only after the armed group. We are tracking them down to the last man,” he said, adding that operations against the insurgents will continue.
Teodoro also appealed to communities to support the military’s campaign against the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Communities and LGUs should stand up and make it clear that they do not want the NPA in their areas. The Army will continue to help them,” he said.
Teodoro warned that failure to confront the insurgency could allow armed groups to evolve into warlord-like organizations.
He reiterated that rebels still have the option to surrender but stressed that security forces would not stop pursuing armed insurgents who continue to engage in violence.
“We will continue hunting them. They can surrender if they choose,” he said.
Teodoro also reiterated his opposition to renewed peace talks with communist rebels, arguing that such negotiations grant legitimacy to groups that continue to commit crimes and sow instability.
“I do not support peace talks because they (rebels) create disorder to gain attention and legitimacy. This is plain and simple terrorism,” he said.*
