Sagada villagers search, dismantle NPA camps

Sagada, Mountain Province. ShutterStock image

MANILA — Irked at the atrocities committed by New People’s Army (NPA) fighters against civilians, Sagada villagers in the Mountain Province on Friday conducted their own search-and-dismantle missions against rebel lairs in their areas.

501st Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Roger Salvador said that this effort was done in response to the consensus reached by Sagada villagers last May 7.

The villagers resolved that no NPA camp or base will be allowed to be set up in their areas and search-and-dismantle missions will be conducted regularly to prevent rebels from taking foot in their communities.

Salvador said that the resolve of the Sagada villagers was in the wake of human rights violations committed by the NPA fighters in the locality which was previously declared as zone of peace effectively barring armed soldiers and rebels from entering the area.

“What is happening in Sagada is an excellent example of people fed up with violence who found the courage to unite and reject the NPA terrorists and allow peace to reign in their town,” he concluded.