The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade is filing a complaint against Army Scout Rangers for a raid on its troops that it said is in violation on an existing peace agreement, and triggered the evacuation of 124 families from Sitio Harvy, Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava, RPA-ABB spokesman Victorino Sumulong said yesterday.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia confirmed yesterday that 124 families of Sitio Harvy had evacuated in fear of the military operations in their village and had not returned to their homes.

Sumulong said the implementing guidelines on cessation of hostilities provided in the peace agreement of the RPA-ABB and the government, prohibits acts of physical and or armed aggression between parties

Seven RPA-ABB members were in a house in Sitio Harvy when the Scout Rangers staged a raid Tuesday and started firing at them, he said.

“Our troops initiated defensive firing as they retreated,” he said.

“The Scout Rangers took our members seven knapsacks, six combat boots, 100 rounds of bullets of an M-16 rifle, and rice belonging to the barangay resident who owned the house where the raid was staged,” Sumulong said.

Now the military are covering up for their mistake by saying we did not coordinate with them, which is not true, he said.

Ka Remar, commander of the RPA-ABB in the north,  said the  firefight lasted about 20 minutes and one of their men was slightly injured as they retreated.

He also said the Scout Rangers beat up two civilians who had gone to the scene of the incident, and residents, out of fear, evacuated from their village.

And inspite of being members of the RPA-ABB, the Army conducted hot pursuit operations against them, Sumulong said.

Col. Honorato de los Reyes, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, however, said the RPA-ABB did not coordinate with the Army on their presence in the area.

The Scout Rangers were reacting to information that there were armed men, and amazons in the area, he said.

The Army is not pursuing RPA-ABB members, we are pursuing members of the New People’s Army, de los Reyes said.

“We don’t consider the RPA-ABB our enemies,” he said, adding that the Army is discussing the matter with their commanders.

De los Reyes said he was not informed that two civilians had been beaten up and that he would look into the matter.

Residents of Sitio Harvy have nothing to fear and do not need to evacuate, he added.*CPG

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