Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have attacked a Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment in Barangay Malamodao, Maco, Compostela Valley Province at around 6 a.m. last Maundy Thursday (April 5).
According to the 10th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army, the NPA fired upon a CAFGU detachment in the same barangay. Terrified residents sought shelter inside their houses but a loud explosion coming from a rifle grenade rocked one of the houses nearby.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the rifle grenade fell short of the detachment, which was the intended target. Instead, it entered through the roof of a nearby house, exploding upon impact. Grenade shrapnel hit Rosena Camporedondo, 44, and her son Andy Camporedondo, 16 on different parts of their bodies. A second rifle grenade fell short and landed just a few meters outside the same house and fortunately did not explode.
The Barangay Council and members of the Peace and Development Team of the 71st and 72nd Infantry Battalions brought the wounded civilians to Davao Regional Hospital for medical treatment. They were released on the same day.
In a statement, the Barangay Captain of Malamodao, Noemi Gadong, condemned the act of the NPA and thanked the military for taking care of her wounded constituents. “This is supposed to be a time for penitence and meditation, but instead of respecting the holy week, they went on with their criminal acts and endangered the lives of my constituents.” Gadong said.
The 10th Infantry Division spokesperson, Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, stressed that the NPA violated and deliberately disrespected once again, the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
“These criminals utterly violated the provisions contained in Part 2 of the CARHRIHL about the protection to be given to civilians in times of conflict. They almost killed two innocent and poor residents of Barangay Malamodao,” Paniza said.
