AFP: 1 soldier killed, 4 uniformed personnel hurt in Masbate clashes vs suspected NPAs

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said one soldier was killed in the series of encounters with suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Masbate that took place from March 20 to 22.

In a statement, the AFP identified the fatality as Corporal Antonio Parreño Jr.

Two other soldiers and two policemen were also hurt in the clashes in Barangay Villahermosa in Cawayan, and Barangay Locso-on in Placer, and a bomb attack in Barangay Gaid in Dimasalang.

According to authorities, an encounter also happened near a school in Cawayan.

On Friday, the Department of National Defense (DND) condemned the violent acts “that inflicted injuries on our uniformed personnel and innocent civilians, especially children.”

“By committing atrocities such as the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near schools and in public areas, the CTG has placed our people in harm's way,” the DND said in a statement.

The National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) expressed concern that the clash transpired in the school vicinity.

“We express great concern over the commission of these acts of lawlessness, violence, and terrorism by the CTG in the vicinity of schools which are supposed to be zones of peace, greatly affecting the safety and wellbeing of our school children and our teachers,” it said.

Acting Presidential Adviser On Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Isidro Purisima said the encounters forced the temporary closure of schools in the area.

“We sympathize with the students, teachers and residents who have all been caught in the crossfire. They have witnessed the atrocities perpetrated by the  terrorist group. The fear and trauma caused by these horrendous incidents will leave deep emotional wounds that will take quite some time to heal,” he said in a statement.

On Thursday, the Department of Education (DepEd) said the activities of communist rebels in Masbate have surged to an "alarming rate," causing  learning disruption in the province. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News