Balangiga officials deny reports of NPAs raiding relief goods

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar, April 11, 2020—The local officials of the municipality of Balangiga in Eastern Samar have rebuffed the news story carried by PTV News that “Communists NPA terrorists (CNTs) swooped down on Sitio Bangon, Barangay Guinmayohan around 9:00 AM of April 7, 2020 and took away relief good intended for the people.” 

“We have not received such reports from the locals,”  said Balangiga mayor Randy Graza adding that if the news story were true there should have been local residents or barangay officials informing him about it.

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer, Judith D. Alde, also confirmed that the alleged seizing of the goods by the members of the New People’s Army did not happen.

She told ESTE News that she arrived at Brgy Guinmaayohan shortly after 9AM on April 7, 2020 and distributed the goods peacefully to family representatives of Sitio Bangon together with other MDRRMC staff and barangay officials.

“You may check every family in the barangay and no one can attest that the incident happened.  In fact, all of our intended recipients received the food items,” said Adela Ogale,  the barangay captain of Guinmaayohan.

According to the press release by the 8^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, the incident happened in Sitio Bangon, Barangay Guinmaayohan on April 7, at 9AM,

Ogale said that she immediately reported to the local PNP about the fake report circulating over Facebook.

PLT. Allan Java Calceta, the Chief of Police of Balangiga Police Station, said that they already have conducted revalidation of the incident in Brgy. Guinmaayohan together with personnel of the Provincial Police Office, and initially found out that there was no such incident on the said date. 

PLT. Calceta said that they are currently investigating the residents of Sitio Bangon.

Mayor Graza added that they are  conducting investigation on the news report. The Municipal Peace and Order Council is set to meet on Monday to discuss and release the result of investigation in an official statement.  (Aboy Abayon / ESTE News)