By Alexis Romero (philstar.com)
MANILA, Philippines – The military on Monday scored the New People’s Army (NPA) for supposedly resorting to propaganda to cover up its atrocities and denied conducting air strikes in Abra.
Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said the atrocities of the insurgents, not the actions of soldiers, are making it hard for the peace talks to proceed.
“This is just a matter of covering up the atrocities they (NPA) have done. We have seen this in the past several incidents where they attacked civilian communities,” Tutaan said.
“It (prospects of the peace talks) is dim because of the NPA’s continuing violence… We have to sit down, talk peace but let us not undertake any form of violence most especially against civilians,” he added.
Tutaan also claimed that ground troops in Abra were only given “close air support” and that no air strike was conducted as claimed by the rebels.
“It’s not even a form of aerial bombardment. It is a release, it is what we call close air support against those armed men of the NPA,” he said.
Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Army field commander based in Abra, however, used the term “air strike” in his report to Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.
In a text message, Brig. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, chief of the Army’s 503rd brigade, said he had been informed by Malibcong, Abra MayorBenido Bacuyag that “there was no civilian casualty as a result of the air strike.”
Despite the seemingly contradictory reports, Tutaan, said the operation was only a close air support, which he described as the delivery of two rockets to mark an area.
“This is to allow the troops on the ground to be able the focused military operation,” he said.
Media reports have quoted NPA local spokesman Diego Wadagan as saying that the chances of peace talks with the government are dim due to the abuses of the military.
The NPA also accused the military of conducting an air strike in Malibcong on May 31 that injured two minors.
Military officials, however, denied that their recent operations in Abra had harmed civilians and dismissed the NPA claim as propaganda.
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/06/10/952459/afp-hits-rebels-propaganda-vs-troops
abrenian.com 
Diego Wadagan, any comment on this.
Posted by Bodong | June 11, 2013, 5:29 amMr. Wadagan, my friend, good day,
I m not in Abra or Philippines but I am from Abra. I am so concerned just like all Abrenios who want to live in peace to enjoy whatever limited time and assets they. I am appealing to renown your against the government. Please join the fold of the law and aspire for a law that benefits us all. You can be an outstanding leader that may change the lives of the people. There is nothing wrong changing position from against the government to joining it and work together with whatever brilliant minds that your group have for all peace and progress loving people to share from you. The populace will respect, honor and thank you for whatever beneficial contributions to improve societal lives.
In fact, your brains are being wasted instead of being shared to everybody who need it. I for one really need for my loved ones back home.
Diego, my friend, I am appealing from across the globe. That shows how very much my concerns are. Frankly, all the population will jump to ever happiness if you just peacefully join the majority. You never go wrong for doing it and it is always wrong to go against the majority.. a democratic way of life, a world wide concept of civilization.
My friend, please think about it and let us together continue the conversation. May God guide us all to the right and Godly paths. Just call me manong ED
Posted by Ed | June 11, 2013, 9:02 amMr. Wadagan, why is it that everytime your troops are being “hit” by the government troops you cry like a baby and use the “civilians” as reasons to your loses. Your tactics in ambushes of government troops wether they are engaged in patrols, or on vacation or on their way to medical chack-ups, or on medical/humanitarian operations are “fair play” on your fight? When you kill “civilians” you suspected of military’s spies or assets it is “fair” on your part, but if there are civilian collateral damages by the military, you complain to Human Rights advocates. You are in “war” with the Phil. government, so be it, don’t cry like baibies whenever you have casualties, I hope you will be the next casualty.
Posted by Genti | June 11, 2013, 10:08 amBomaba ni Wadagan tapno umay tumolong a mangidaulo ti corruption… bay-amon, addan ti kapadasan mi kadaguitia, saan met a nga amin da ngem narigat ti agtalek…
Posted by Bay-amon | June 12, 2013, 12:46 am