An airstrike conducted by the military on Thursday, February 22, in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, aimed at a suspected group of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, has led to the evacuation of at least 300 people and the suspension of classes in several villages.
The operation took place in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugusan, amidst armed conflicts between state forces and the rebels.
The City Social Development Office (CSWDO) provided assistance to those evacuated before the airstrike, as confirmed by military officials on Friday. Escalante City Mayor Beboy Yap announced a class suspension on Friday for eight villages affected by the military action, including Libertad, Pinapugasan, Binaguiohan, Paitan, Dian-ay, Magsaysay, Malasibog, and Tamlang.
Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) criticized the airstrike for causing evacuations and disrupting education, arguing it violated the Geneva Convention’s protocols against indiscriminate attacks that fail to differentiate between combatants and civilians.
Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, spokesperson for the 3rd Infantry Division, stated the airstrike targeted members of the NPA’s Northern Negros Front (NNF), accused of extorting food from local villagers.
The operation was a response to a series of clashes that began on Wednesday, February 21, resulting in three suspected rebel deaths and injuries to both military and Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) personnel.
The deceased rebels, identified only by aliases Michael, Jose, and Jandy, were part of an encounter that also yielded firearms, anti-personnel mines, and NPA documents. The military believes the rebels were guarding a high-ranking guerrilla leader intending to reinforce the NNF, a group previously declared dismantled in 2021.
Javines assured that the military had conducted thorough risk assessments prior to the airstrike, including evacuating civilians and mapping out local farms to minimize risks, insisting that the operation did not breach any laws. – PhilippinesToday.ph