Massive operations launched vs. rebels

AFP assures safety of operators of Davao City inland resorts

By ROGER M. BALANZA

            The military in Southern Mindanao has assured owners of world-class inland tourist resorts and premium housing projects in Eden in Toril district that communist rebels would have no opportunity to conduct terrorist activities in the area.

            Lt. Col. Gaudencio Pangilinan, commanding officer of the 66^th Army Infantry Brigade, on Tuesday told members of the Davao City Council that the military is in full control of the area. Eden along with Barakatan and Catigan form part of the Three Ridges Tourism Estate, now home to several inland resorts and high-end housing projects.

Ferrazini slay

             Pangilinan appeared at the legislative council as the military, led by his brigade, conduct massive operations against New People’s Army in Davao City’s boundary with Davao del Sur, where large bands of communist rebels have been spotted recently.

            The other day, a trooper was hit in the leg in a clash with rebels in Sitio Merco in Catigan while a civilian was hit in the arm. Sitio Merco is named after Merco (Mercantle Corporation of Davao) owned by the Ferrazini family, which owns more than a hundred hectares of land in the area planted to bananas and fruits.

            The killing of Vicente Ferrazini three weeks ago in down Davao City led the military to conduct operations against the rebels in Catigan. The New People’s Army claimed responsibility for the killing, saying Ferrazini allowed the military to set up a camp inside the family farm.

            Yesterday as the military operations continued, 16 families fled Catigan to avoid being hit in the crossfire. 

Military critic

            Pangilinan, who was allowed to speak at the council session, assured city councilors the military is in full control with full protection for the resort and housing projects. We want to allay the fears of the businessmen and the residents that we will be there to protect them, he said. He hurled a broadside, however, at councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad, a member of the militant Gabriela and Bayan Muna and a consistent critic of the military, saying the lady councilor should help monitor military operations for human rights violations.

            Pangilinan’s appearance at the Davao City Council was apparently a pitch for more aid from the Davao City local government to Task Force Davao, a military contingent assigned to the city after the 2003 separate bombings of the Davao International Airport and the government-operated Sasa seaport. Thirty-eight people were killed while more than 200 others were wounded in the blast blamed on Moro secessionist groups.

Subsidy

            Pangilinan is the former commanding officer of Task Force Davao, whose P24 million subsidy proposed in the 2008 annual budget was thumbed down by the Davao City Council.      

            Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier last week met with city councilors to request the subsidy restored. Councilors removed the fund from the annual budget over comment by the Commission on Audit—and militant left-leaning groups—that the city government subsidy is too large for an army contingent already receiving a budget from the national government.