Last 3 February, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the end of the unilateral ceasefire between the government and the New People’s Army.
Discontinuing the ceasefire, which puts peace negotiations in peril, was a result of preemptive attacks by Communist forces against military and industrial installations. This is part of a series of articles charting these incidents leading up to and surrounding the resumption of hostilities.
Bukidnon, Philippines – Last Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at about three o’clock in the afternoon three members of the 8th Infantry Battalion failed to return to their posted station and could not be located nor contacted. The said men were deployed as a Bayanihan Team Activity (BTA) squad in Barangay Manalog, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
The three personnel were missing after securing their subsistence allowance in the city of Malaybalay. A report was then received at around 5:00 P.M. of the same day that three male unidentified persons were found lifeless along the road within the vicinity of Sitio Kalib, Barangay Kibalabag, Malaybalay City.
8th Infantry Battalion members immediately proceeded to the said location. Upon their arrival, they confirmed that the bodies were of the three BTA squad members who earlier failed to return to their post. They were later identified as Sergeant Owen B. Yee, Private First Class Pat O. Non, and Private First Class Niño Christopher L. Talabor. These three men were organic membrs of the Charlie, Company, 8th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Early investigation suggests that the three soldiers were slain with high-powered firearms by CPP-NPA-NDF rebels.
Other incidents include:
NPA Attacks on the Day Termination of Ceasefire is Announced
Bukidnon truck burned by the NPA
NPA Abducts 2 Soldiers in Sultan Kudarat
NPA Burns Down Heavy Equipment in Bukidnon
