Military conducts airstrike against NPA in Bukidnon

MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen high-explosive rockets from an SF-26 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group were pounded against an enemy lair for combat support after a firefight between government troops and security forces at the vicinity of Sitio (sub village) Nabuntoran, in Sampaguita village, Kibawe town in Bukidnon, Sunday morning, the military said.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon of the Eastern Mindanao Command said troops from the Charlie Company of the 8th Infantry Battalion led by a certain 2nd Lieutenant Fulgencio clashed with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at around 5:20a.m.

The encounter lasted about four hours, and resulted to a recovery of two backpacks said to have “high intel value,” assorted clothing, a half sack of rice, assorted empty shells and damaged parts of an M16 rifle.

No casualty on troops were recorded while on the enemy side is not yet determined, Galon said.

He added an assessment is being conducted to determine the result of the airstrike.

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Frances Mangosing | INQUIRER.net | April 2, 2012 | Article Link

4 soldiers wounded in rebel ambush in Bukidnon

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) -- Four government soldiers were wounded in an ambush by leftist rebels who had burned two trucks contracted by a Japanese banana firm in the southern Philippines on Wednesday, the military said.

Elements of the army's 8th Infantry Battalion on board a truck and an armored personnel carrier were on their way to respond to a burning incident when waylaid by New People's Army guerrillas along a national highway in Palacapao village, Quezon town, in Mindanao's Bukidnon province around 8 a.m., said Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

The troops were on their way to Kitaotao town, also in Bukidnon, to help pursue NPA gunmen who had burned two trailer trucks hired by Sumitumo Fruits Corporation (Sumifru) Philippines, said Galon.

"Rebels posing as soldiers set up a checkpoint in Sinuda village around 1 a.m. and flagged the vehicles which were likewise doused with gasoline and set on fire," Galon told Xinhua by mobile phone, adding the guerrillas also detonated a landmine during the subsequent ambush eight hours later.

The incidents happened just two days after NPA gunmen attempted to storm a Sumifru plantation in Compostela Valley province also in Mindanao, but were repulsed by soldiers and company guards. Six attackers died in that incident.

The 4,000-strong NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting a leftist insurgency in 60 Philippine provinces since 1969.

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(philstar.com) Updated January 18, 2012 11:04 PM

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Suspected rebels burn cargo truck

BUKIDNON -- Suspected communist rebels clad in military uniforms manned a checkpoint on Wednesday dawn in a hinterland village in Bukidnon province and burned a passing cargo truck loaded with bananas, military said.

Captain Eduardo Meclat, spokesperson of the Army's 403rd Infantry Brigade, said about 30 New People's Army rebels conducted a checkpoint using the signage of a the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion.

He said the burned truck, which was supposed to deliver bananas to Davao City, is reportedly owned by Sumifru Corporation. The firm has banana plantations in Bukidnon province.

Meclat said responding troopers from the 8th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Maramag town responded and engaged in a firefight with the rebels.

"After few minutes of gun fires, the rebels fled to the hinterlands," he said.

Lt. Jeorge Jallorina, 8th IB spokesperson, said after several minutes interval, a reinforcing element from the 8th IB was ambushed in Barangay Palacapao, Quezon, Bukidnon before they reached the engagement area.

Jallorina said four troopers were said to be slightly wounded in the firefight. "We are now combing the area to flush out the rebels," he said. (PIA)

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Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on January 19, 2012.

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