LEGAZPI CITY, April 3 -- Psychosocial first aid has already been provided to teachers, students, and residents affected by recent encounters between government soldiers and the New People's Army (NPA) in several towns of Masbate province.

This developed as the 9th Infantry Division formed Joint Task Force Sagip that renders psychosocial intervention to students, teachers and residents traumatized by the harassment of NPA rebels that usually ended in encounters with government troopers, said Maj. Frank Roldan, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the 9th ID.

The affected individuals from Barangay Locso-an in the town of Placer; Barangay Gaid in Dimasalang town, and Barangay Villahermosa in the municipality of Cawayan, all in Masbate, un...