MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Balangiga, Eastern Samar province on Monday (April 13) passed a resolution supporting a military report that communist rebels took relief goods given to residents for COVID-19 aid but saying that “robbery” or “forcibly taken” were terms too strong to describe what the rebels did. Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza and other town officials had told local media that they have not received such reports from villagers. But the local officials and the military were able to clarify things during a municipal peace and order council meeting last Monday. The report said rebels took half a sack of rice from each resident. The report, the AFP statement said, had been validated by a report of the 8th ID chief, Maj. Gen. Pio Dinoso, which has jurisdiction over the area.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 14, 2020 05:26 UTC