The Philippine Army yesterday allayed fears of retaliation against the New People’s Army responsible for the deaths of two soldiers in the hinterlands of Cadiz City Tuesday and that civilians may be affected by their pursuit operations against the suspects.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said the 62nd Infantry Battalion, who suffered two casualties in the encounter in Brgy. Andres Bonifacio, Cadiz City, showed their professionalism and strict adherence to the Role of Engagement and International Humanitarian Law, by ensuring that no civilian was hit during the gunbattle, at the encounter site located near a populated area.

“We will just enforce the law,” Lactao said.

The encounter claimed the lives of PFCs Crispy Ryan Toledo and PFC Nazario Buenavidez, and caused injuries to Sgt. Alfredo Isidro Jr., who was hit in the left leg. All of them are members of the 62IB stationed in Cadiz City.

Lactao said the soldiers who responded to reports of civilians on sighting of armed rebels in the area, did not fire their weapons indiscriminately against the armed rebels, for fear of hitting civilians in a crossfire.

Although emotions ran high among soldiers who suffered two fatalities during the firefight, not a single civilian in a nearby populated area was hit, so, how much more when the condition was already stable during pursuit operation? he said.

It really shows how professional our soldiers are now, Lactao added.

The estimated 15 rebels who figured in an encounter with 62IB soldiers, were reportedly collecting revolutionary taxes in the barangay, when they were spotted by civilians who immediately relayed the information to soldiers, Major Avelino Moradillo, 62IB officer-in-charge, said in an interview with ABS-CBN.

Lactao also ruled out any lapses by soldiers during the gunbattle, and even commended the two slain troopers, and Isidro, for bravery they had displayed, which was beyond the call of duty.

Isidro was conferred yesterday by Lactao his third Wounded Personnel Medal at a private hospital in Bacolod City, and it was attended by Lt. Col. Nathaniel Villasor and Rosalita Isidro, wife of the injured soldier.

Lactao said the families of two slain soldiers are expected to receive financial assistance from Malacañang of P200,000 each, a house and lot and a scholarship for their children, aside from usual benefits they will receive from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“This is how we reciprocate the bravery of our soldier,” he said. *GPB

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