Militiamen build up in coal-rich village

KORONADAL CITY -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is training militiamen to thwart alleged growing infiltration of communist rebels in a far-flung village in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato that is rich in coal deposits.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexis Noel Bravo C. Bravo, chief of the Army's 27th Infantry Battalion, said more than two dozens of villagers have volunteered to become members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit.

"They want to join to fight the communist guerrillas now operating in [Barangay] Ned," he said, noting the New People's Army Front 73 has established a foothold in the area.

Bravo said the AFP has "token forces" in Ned, a government resettlement area, since they are more focused in the towns of Columbio in Sultan Kudarat and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur where communist presence is more intense.

Columbio forms part of the Tampakan copper-gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines Inc.

Bravo earlier classified the Tampakan project as "potentially highly at risk" from NPA attacks.

In Lake Sebu, San Miguel Energy Corp. has set up a base camp in Ned in a bid to extract massive coal deposits in the area.

Claiming increased NPA presence in the area, Bravo said in a separate statement that 27th IB troops recently captured a communist rebel there.

The rebel was identified as Marlon Donayre, 25, of Pantukan, Compostela Valley.

Donayre confessed that he belongs to the NPA Guerilla Front 73, according to the military statement. He was captured by 27th IB troops at Sitio Tasufao in Barangay Ned after he detached from his group to gather firewood.

Taken from his possession were a hand grenade and a rifle magazine with ammunition.

Bravo said the captured rebel was working to organize a mass base for communist rebels in the area.

The captured rebel's revelations on NPA activities in Barangay Ned coincided with the information provided by an alias Estoy, a former NPA Front 73 member who yielded to the 27th IB last February, Bravo said.

Charges of illegal possession of explosive and ammunition have been filed against Donayre at a court in this city, Bravo said.

The military official accused humans rights group Karapatan of having a link with the NPA after members of the former allegedly tried to help Donayre.

In March, the 27th IB and members of the Taboli Manubo S'daf Claimants Organization, which is opposing the coal mining project, met here to discuss the military presence in Barangay Ned.

Members of the tribal organization feared harassment from the military on account of the ongoing campaign against the NPA rebels in the area.

Tamasco said their members are not sympathizers of the communist rebels.

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Bong S. Sarmiento | SunStar.Com.Ph | May 8, 2012 | Article Link

5 die in clash near mining site

KORONADAL CITY -- A soldier and four communist rebels were killed in a firefight in a remote village near the mining development site of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines Inc. in this city, an official said. 

Lieutenant Colonel Alexis Noel C. Bravo, commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said the attack happened last Wednesday, when an estimated 40 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) stormed a military detachment in Barangay Bacungan, Columbio, resulting in the firefight that lasted for about 45 minutes.

Bravo did not identify the dead soldier who is from this city and holds a rank of private first class.

He said pursuit operations continue Friday against the NPA rebels at the boundary of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

The rebels, posing as mining workers, attacked the detachment on board a hijacked forward truck, the military official said.

A militiaman, identified as Dionato Obias, was lightly wounded in the firefight.

The NPA rebels left the bodies of their two dead comrades, Bravo said, adding that residents reported to the military that the communist rebels brought along two more bodies.

The withdrawing rebels allegedly abducted five residents in nearby Barangay San Miguel in Magsaysay town to serve as human shields, Bravo said, adding they also took away a horse to carry a wounded member.

He identified the alleged abducted residents as Vicente Bunal, Jolly Paimalan, Elmer Entes, Rhyan Banua and Pablo Butaya.

Bravo said the troops recovered from the encounter site an M-14 rifle, a USAS 12-gauge shotgun, a fragmentation grenade, assorted ammunitions and 20 backpacks.

Colonel Glorioso Miranda, 1002nd Brigade commander, said the attack Wednesday "was aimed at intimidating the civilians who are supportive of the presence of 27th IB peace and development teams in their barangay." 

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Bong S. Sarmiento | SunStar.Com.Ph | April 27, 2012 | Article Link

Govt Troops Foiled NPA Attack; 4 NPAs, 1 Cafgu killed

CAMP PANACAN, Davao City- Government troops foiled the attack of more or less 30 Organized Crime Group - New People’s Army (OCG-NPA) in an encounter that transpired at about 1:45 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

 

 27^th Infantry Battalion disclosed that the OCG-NPAs were on board one hijacked forward truck when they attacked Talusob Detachment in Brgy. Bacungan, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

 

According to Lt. Col. Alexis Bravo, Commander of 27^th IB, government troops have defended well and were not discouraged to fight back during the encounter. The fire fight lasted for 45 minutes.

 “The failed attack is an indication that these OCG-NPAs continue to weaken and now losing their mass base support,” Bravo said. 

He also lauded the Cafgu members who repulsed the attack despite being outnumbered. “We commend our troops’ courage and valor,” Bravo added who has operational jurisdiction in the said area. 

One Cafgu, CAA Leonardo Cainglet, was killed in action (KIA) while one Cafgu, identified as Dionato Obias, was slightly wounded on the said attack.

Bravo also revealed that the OCG-NPAs left two of their dead companions while two more comrades were dead as reported by local residents. He added that after the failed attack, the OCG-NPAs withdrew and abducted five local residents of Brgy. San Miguel, adjacent barangay of Bacungan all of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, as their human shield and carrier of the wounded NPA. While one horse of a local resident of said barangay was also used as carrier. Bravo identified the victims as Vicente Bunal, Jolly Paimalan, Elmer Entes, Rhyan Banua and Pablo Butaya. 

The government troops were able to recover one M14 rifle, one USAS 12 gauge shotgun, fragmentation grenade, assorted ammunitions and twenty backpacks. 

 “We will give appropriate awards and benefits to our casualties and we will be more determined to implement our genuine Peace and Development efforts as our commitment to the community who are vulnerable to OCG-NPA criminalities”, Bravo said. 

According to 1002^nd Brigade Commander, Col. Glorioso V. Miranda, this violent action by the lawless armed group was aimed at intimidating the civilians who are supportive of the presence of 27^th IB peace and development teams in their barangay. 

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10cmobn10id | 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army | April 26, 2012 | Article Link