Davao village execs sore at AFP over bombing

The military stands to get a double black eye for its bombing operations Wednesday against New People's Army (NPA) rebels who raided the Davao Penal Colony armory last weekend. Radio station dzBB reported Thursday morning that officials of Manay village in Panabo City near Davao City have drawn up a resolution questioning military operations there. It said the resolution scored the military for bombing the village and forcing many families to flee, while questioning its claims that the NPA took residents as human shields. Aside from this, village officials also noted that out of some 20 bombs dropped by OV-10 military aircraft Wednesday, only a "sisiw" (chick) was killed. Panabo is a fourth-class city in Davao del Norte province, with a population of 133,950 people in 27,225 households. Last Wednesday, military planes started bombing operations on a banana farm in Panabo City to flush out alleged NPA rebels there. The Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion reported that about 50 to 60 rebels took hostage residents of Manay, thus preventing soldiers to enter the area. Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command, claimed that the bombing run started after elements of Task Force Raptor under Brigadier Gen. Antonio Amodia encountered rebels Wednesday morning. The encounter area is said to be the same area where the rebels reportedly massed up before Sunday's raid of the Dapecol. - GMANews.TV