Army officials said troops have recovered dozens of landmines and
various materials used in the manufacture of improvised explosives in
the southern Philippines.
Officials linked the explosives to the communist rebel group New
People’s Army in Loreto town in Agusan del Sur province. The cache of
landmines was discovered by civilians in the village of Mansanitas,
according to Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao
Command.
Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, the Eastern Mindanao Command chief,
praised the bravery of the civilians who informed the military about the
explosives.
“We thank our people for their cooperation. Our soldiers are always
ready to respond anywhere and whenever needed. If the NPA is sincere
about peace, they must stop manufacturing landmines as these kill people
and destroy properties,” Cruz said.
He said the discovery came a day after two NPA rebels - Robert Daging
and Abet Guinson – surrendered to the 36th Infantry Battalion in Carmen
town in the province of Surigao del Sur.
The duo also handed over two automatic rifles. The NPA has been fighting
for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
Article Source: Mindanao Examiner
Showing posts with label Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
NPA executes kidnapped soldier
MANILA, Philippines - An Army soldier who was reported missing and believed captured by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels last month has been executed by his captors, the military said yesterday.
Soldiers recovered the body of S/Sgt. Matronillo Macion, commander of a Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) team in Sitio Vedupe, Barangay San Juan in Panaon town at the boundary of Jimenez and Aloran towns in Misamis Occidental.
The troops also recovered an improvised explosive device and a grenade.
At least 25 NPA rebels attacked the CAFGU outpost under Macion.
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| The Philippine Star | March 5, 2013 | Article Link
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Villager takes NPA’s AK-47
A villager from Surigao del Sur already fed up with the abuses of the New People's Army (NPA) took away an AK-47 rifle from the insurgent group and turned over the firearm to the military.
1Lt. Joe Patrick Martinez, commanding officer of the 42nd CMO Company, 4th Infantry Division (4ID), said the villager carted one AK-47 (Norinco brand with defaced serial number), two magazines, and 80 rounds 7.62 mm ammunitions from the members Platoon 2 of Guerilla Front 16 of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee who were then conducting extortion activities at a community in Barangay Aurora, Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte last February 20.
Martinez said the villager told them that while the NPAs were having a short rest after their extortion activities, he saw one of the insurgents put down his weapon, an AK-47 rifle.
When the insurgents took a nap, he then grabbed the opportunity to sneak and take away the firearm.
The villager then went straight to the 30th Infantry Battalion of the 4ID based in Barangay Placer, Surigao del Norte, and informed the military about the presence of the insurgents in their community, at the same time, surrender the rifle.
Martinez said the villager claimed that the abuses committed by the NPAs prompted him to steal the rifle from them.
“The money and food that they demand from us is just enough for our family,” lamented the villager.
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Elena L. Aben | Manila Bulletin | February 27, 2013 | Article Link
2 NPAs killed in Cagayan clash
MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected communist rebels were killed during an encounter with government troops in Cagayan, police said on Wednesday.
Police Inspector Ceasar Orlanes, information officer of the Cagayan Provincial Police Office, said the firefight between soldiers and members of the New People's Army took place on Tuesday at around 1:30 p.m. in Barangay Lakambini, Tuao.
Ornales said authorities have yet to identify the casualties.
He said policemen were dispatched to the village after they received information on the presence of at least eight heavily-armed men in the area.
The firefight lasted for almost an hour after which the rebels retreated from the area.
Authorities recovered from the site an M-14 carbine rifle, an M-16 assault rifle and a caliber 45 pistol.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| The Philippine Star | February 27, 2013 | Article Link
Communist Rebel tagged in Bukidnon attack falls
A SUSPECTED member of the New People’s Army (NPA) who was reportedly among those who attacked two pineapple plantations in Bukidnon last week was arrested on Tuesday.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao spokesman Police Superintendent Ronnie Francis M. Cariaga identified the alleged NPA member as Valeriano Anonsaon Jr., alias “Junior.”
Cariaga said Anonsaon, who was nabbed in Barangay Sil-ipon in Libona town, Bukidnon, has a pending arrest warrant for attempted homicide issued by Judge Lourdes Eltanal-Ignacio of the 1st Municipal Trial Court of Bukidnon.
Last February 19, NPA rebels simultaneously attacked the plantations and offices of Del Monte Philippines in Camp Phillips and Dole in Impasug-ong.
A few hours after the attack, at least two suspected NPA rebels were arrested in a manhunt operation in Barangay Kihare, Manolo Fortich, Cariaga added.
“Local police of Libona received information from a confidential informant that Valeriano was last spotted in Barangay Sil-ipon where he stayed with his wife’s uncle and was recuperating from the injuries he suffered in an encounter with Army personnel last February 23,” Cariaga said in an emailed statement.
During investigation, Anonsaon told authorities that three more rebels were injured and three others were killed during the encounter.
Cariaga said the management of Del Monte is now coordinating with the local police in the filing of arson cases against the suspected rebels.
“PRO-10 assures the public that it will continue to pursue its mandate of going after these rebels who were responsible in the series of atrocities in Bukidnon. Police personnel have now identified other suspects based on cartographic sketches,” he said.
One security guard was killed while two other guards and one civilian were injured in the February 19 attack in Del Monte.
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Sun Star Cagayan de Oro | February 28, 2013 | Article Link
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Rebels raid village, seize arms cache
KIDAPAWAN CITY - Some 60-armed members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) raided a Moro community in a town in Makilala, North Cotabato, and carted away 16 firearms, at 3:15 p.m. last Saturday, an Army official said.
Lt. Manuel Gatus, commander of the Charlie Company of the 57th Infantry Battalion, said the rebels arrived on foot at Sitio Lacobe in Barangay Malabuan in Makilala town and pretended they were soldiers from the 38th Infantry Battalion allegedly tasked to get the villagers' firearms for inspection.
"The villagers, mostly members of a Maguindanaon tribe, were told to gather at the village center for a meeting and while this was on going, some of the rebels forcibly entered the houses and confiscated whatever firearms they could recover from the place," Gatus said.
Gatus said the rebels confiscated eight home-made Uzi pistols, five home-made Ingram pistols, two 38 caliber revolvers, and an M-79 grenade launcher.
The guns, said Gatus, are owned by the Baclid family and their relatives, many of whom are elements of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu).
The raid, the military official stressed, happened two weeks after the decades-old land conflict between the Baclid family and the Ilonggo settlers in the village was finally resolved through years of negotiations and interventions from the government, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), in particular.
The rebels are reportedly against the conflict resolution saying it was “unfair” and “unjust” on the part of the settlers.
Records from DAR showed a wide area of the land in conflict was given to the Baclid family.
The Baclids have long claimed sitio Lacobe as part of their ancestral land.
"In the 70s, during the wars in Mindanao, the Baclids were driven away from their lands. But in the 90s, when everything has returned to normalcy, they returned to their homes. They were surprised, however, to see Ilonggos tilling their lands," said Gatus, citing as basis the account of the Baclids.
The Ilonggos, however, claimed they bought the lands from landowners and other residents of the place. They showed as proof their land titles.
Gatus said that as soon as they confirmed reports the rebels raided the place and carted the villagers’ firearms they immediately sent teams to run after the NPAs whom they believed have set up bases along the boundary of Makilala and Tulunan towns in North Cotabato and in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.
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Malu Cadeliña Manar | Sun Star Davao | February 27, 2013 | Article Link
Thursday, February 14, 2013
NPA bandits kill a militiaman, injure 4 including a non-combatant in Northern Samar
Another innocent
civilian was shot and wounded by NPA bandits who attacked a gathering of
people attended by members of the 8th Infantry Division's Peace and
Development Team (PDT) in Northern Samar at 12:00nn on Tuesday, Feb 12.
The attack occured
while the soldiers were conducting 'pulong-pulong' (dialogue) with local
residents of Guindaluan village, Rosario town.
Three people were wounded including a local resident named Raul Estellero, of Brgy 3 of the said town.
A militiaman was also killed while three other military personnel were hurt during the brief firefight which ensued.
A militiaman was also killed while three other military personnel were hurt during the brief firefight which ensued.
Lt Col. Noel Vestuir,
the Commanding Officer of the 20th Infantry Battalion identified the
wounded soldiers as Ssg Dionald Opilanda and Sgt Arnold Miranda,
and militiaman Jonar Estellero.
The name of the dead militiaman was not released pending notification of his nearest kin.
The name of the dead militiaman was not released pending notification of his nearest kin.
The NPA bandits have
recorded a growing number of human rights violations such as attacking
non-combatants and abducting innocent civilians.
In January 2013, eight civilians were massacred by NPA bandits in La Castellana town in Negros Occidental.
The NPA bandits have
also masterminded extrajudicial killings all over the archipelago,
victimizing state forces and civilians who were accused of supporting
the military.
As the communist armed group insist to use armed violence, more innocent people will fall victims to their atrocities.
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February 13, 2012 | Article Link
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Reds killed 1 civilian a week in 2012 - AFP
 |
| The recent NPA ambush in Negros Occidental claimed nine lives, mostly civilians. Last year, the AFP claimed communist rebels killed an average of one civilian a week. |
MANILA, Philippines -- Communist rebels killed an average of one civilian a week last year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines claimed Wednesday.
AFP spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the military recorded 53 civilian deaths in 374 violent incidents in 2012. NPA attacks or clashes also killed 81 soldiers, eight policemen and 22 militiamen.
"Such atrocities are a clear manifestation of the NPAs resorting to force and intimidation to coerce civilians including private firms and individuals, even poor folks in far flung villages of the country to give in to their demands since the NPA has lost its mass base support already," Burgos said in a statement.
The AFP, meanwhile, said 555 communist rebels were arrested, killed or surrendered to the government.
January deadliest month for civilians
The beginning of last year proved to be the deadliest for civilians, the AFP said, with 10 killed and nine wounded in 10 alleged NPA attacks.
"These NPA-initiated violent incidents also resulted to three fatalities from the AFP, PNP, and CAA (CAFGU active auxiliary) while 27 were wounded. This clearly shows that the rebel group continues to pursue armed violence despite ongoing peace efforts by the government," Burgos said.
Last month, the NPA also admitted responsibility for the death of nine people, mostly civilians, in La Castellana, Negros Occidental but claimed that they were fired upon first.
The AFP claimed the NPA has been reduced to attacking "soft targets" and continue to use improvised explosive devices, ambushes and extorting from civilians.
Ceasefire violations
During the December 16 to January 15 ceasefire, the longest ever between the government and communist rebels, the AFP said it had recorded at least five incidents of harassment by the NPA, in Agusan del Norte, Malaybalay City, North Cotabato, Tanay, Rizal, South Cotabato and Camarines Sur.
A soldier and a militiaman were killed and two others were wounded.
The NPA also abducted a policeman and a soldier, Burgos said.
Despite these incidents, the AFP said it would continue to support peace efforts by the government but "will continue to intensify our focused security operations against armed rebels who continue to wage armed violence causing loss of innocent lives, destruction of properties, and damage to vital economic facilities and infrastructures,” AFP chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista said.
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Monday, August 20, 2012
Philippine Army kills 2 NPA fighters in Albay clash
Two New People’s Army rebels were killed in a firefight with
government troops in Albay Saturday, reported Army 9th Infantry Division
spokesman Maj. Angelo Guzman Sunday.
He
related that soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division were deployed at
the outskirts of Camalig town after receiving information from a
resident about the rebels’ presence.
“(The
soldiers) responded to an information from a local folk about the
presence of 10 NPAs in their village doing some recruitment efforts,
disinformation drives and extortion,” said Guzman.
At around 5:30 a.m. Saturday, Guzman said that an army squad (about nine soldiers) caught up with the rebels.
Citing a report from the 2nd IB commander Lt. Col. Audrey Pasia, Guzman
said, “Though outnumbered, they were able to outmaneuver the rebels and
gave them a big blow.”
Guzman named the slain rebels as Arboy Moina and Fernando Mostoles Jr. Their remains were turned over to the police.
Guzman added that government soldiers, backed by K9 tracking dogs, have
been deployed to conduct pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels.
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GMA News Online | August 20, 2012 | Article Link
Friday, August 10, 2012
Army cautions village officials involved with rebel movement
COLONEL Oscar Lactao, commander of the Philippine Army's 303rd
Brigade in Bacolod, cautioned village officials who get involved in the
rebel movement.
This came after a rebel who was slain in a recent encounter with the
Army turned out to be a president of a sitio in a city in northern
Negros.
Lactao said he was surprised to know that the slain rebel identified
as Edgar Saguirre Lopez was a purok president in Barangay Jonob Jonob,
Escalante City.
He said Lopez was hit by gunfire from government troopers in the encounter that took place in the area recently.
He added that according to Army informants, three other rebels were wounded in that encounter.
Government troops also recovered after the clash a communist flag,
subversive documents and combat packs containing personal belongings and
empty shells of assorted high-powered firearms.
Lactao then reminded government officials that they have sworn
allegiance to the Philippine flag, thus they are expected to uphold the
law of the country.
He urged the officials to end their involvement with the rebel
movement, saying that in a firefight, bullets from guns of government
forces do not recognize whether one is a barangay official or not.
He said the barangay officials should be the first to uphold the law.
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SunStar.Com.Ph | August 10, 2012 | Article Link
Police arrest rebel in landmine blast
POLICE filed charges before the City Prosecution Office on Wednesday
against a New People's Army (NPA) member involved in a landmine
explosion in Paquibato District in Davao City on August 5.
Lieutenant Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the Army's 10th
Infantry Division, identified the suspect as Mark Jhon Odorios, 19, a
resident of Sitio Bajada, Paradise Embac, Paquibato District.
Paniza said the suspect is now facing criminal charges, after he was
positively identified by one Melvin Lucanas, resident of the same area
who saw Odorios plant the landmine.
Initial investigation of the Paquibato Police Station showed that
Lucanas saw Odorios leaving the area after the landmine exploded.
Lucanas recovered some debris and turned them over to a Peace and
Development Team of the 10th Infantry Division for documentation.
Paniza said the suspect was arrested around 10 a.m. Monday through the help of residents and barangay officials of Sitio Bajada.
"This is an indication that the people in Paquibato and the local
government units are now empowered and joining our campaign for peace
and development in their area," Paniza said.
The suspect is now detained at the Paquibato police station.
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Ivy C. Tejano | SunStar.Com.Ph | August 9, 2012 | Article Link
Monday, July 23, 2012
Farmer stumbles across mass grave in Philippines
A
Philippine farmer unearthed a mass grave with the skeletal remains of
up to 30 people believed to be victims of an internal purge by communist
rebels in the 1980s, the army said on Sunday.
The army deployed a team to cordon off the site and with the help of police forensics experts exhumed the skeletons.
"As of last count, there were about 30 human skeletons," Cabunoc told AFP.
"We believe these were victims of the New People's Army (NPA) 'kangaroo courts', which sentenced to death many members they had suspected as government intelligence agents."
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging a Maoist rebellion since 1969 -- one of the longest-running communist insurgencies in Asia.
At its peak in the 1980s, NPA numbers were believed to have reached 26,000, but that is now down to only 4,000 fighters due to losses on the battle field.
The government alleges that in the mid-1980s, the NPA set up so-called 'kangaroo courts', which condemned to death hundreds believed to have become agents for the state.
Their bodies were believed to have been dumped in secret mass graves.
Various mass graves have been unearthed by the military since 2009, but Saturday's find was believed to contain the biggest number of skeletons so far, Cabunoc said.
Cabunoc added that villagers interviewed by the army near the site said many of their relatives whom they had suspected of joining the NPA went missing in the 1980s and had not been heard of since.
Some of the skeletons showed the hallmarks of torture, although further verification was needed, he said.
President Benigno Aquino re-opened peace talks with the communists in February last year but the negotiations have been delayed by the rebels' demand to release detained comrades.
It was not immediately clear how the discovery of the latest mass grave could affect the talks.
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Agence France-Presse/Yahoo News Online | July 23, 2012 | Article Link
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Communist rebels raid mine, seize 3 men
MANILA -- Communist rebels have raided a gold mining company in the
southern Philippines and demanded weapons in exchange for releasing
three hostages.
Armed Forces spokesperson Major Eugene Osias said about 30 New
People's Army (NPA) rebels stormed into the VTO Mining company office in
Rosario tow, Agusan del Sur early Thursday and seized the owner's son
and two employees.
Guerrillas have in the past raided mining firms, destroying
equipment, and seized weapons as punishment for the companies' reported
environmental destruction and failure to meet the rebels' extortion
demands or pay "revolutionary taxes." However, they rarely demand ransom
for hostages.
Peace talks to end more than four decades of the rural-based
insurgency have stalled and recent efforts to revive them have failed.
The rebels are fighting for a Marxist state.
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SunStar.Com.Ph | July 5, 2012 | Article Link
Top rebel freed on bail rejoins NPA in Negros
MANILA, Philippines - A top
New People’s Army (NPA) commander freed on bail has rejoined his
comrades in Negros Island, the military reported on Wednesday.
Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto, spokesperson of the Army's Capiz-based 3rd
Infantry Division, said that Romeo Nanta, the NPA's regional operations
commander in Negros Island, is now back in the hills after he was
released on bail last Feb. 21, 2012.
Joint police and military elements arrested Nanta, who also goes by
the names of Juanito Magbanua, Jack Nanta, Juaning, Islao and Kulas, on
Nov. 7 2011, at Brgy. Zone 2, Cadiz City by virtue of arrest warrants
for rebellion, robbery-in-band, attempted and frustrated murder issued
by three different courts in Negros Occidental.
Nanta’s release was facilitated by Fred Caña of the human rights group Karapatan based in Negros Island.
“It may be legal for Fred Caña of Karapatan-Negros to support
arrested New People’s Army members in their posting of bail but Caña
should have thought of the repercussions of such actions,” Maj. Gen.
Jose Mabanta Jr.,commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said.
Hernando Llorente (alias Adoy), the Commander of the NPA's Northern
Negros Front and his wife Faith Roseen Basergo (alias Bea), an NPA
political instructor, were also ordered released on bail last April 27.
“The Secretary General of Karapatan-Negros, Fred Caña, rendered the
P80,000 bail bond for the temporary liberty of Adoy and Bea”, said
Lieutenant Colonel Efren Morados, Commander of the 62nd Infantry
Battalion, whose troops supported were responsible for the arrest of the
two NPA rebels on April 20.
“Having jumped bail, we know that this will give them (Nanta, Adoy
and Bea) the opportunity to rejoin their comrades. We hope that Caña,
facilitating the bail, has considered this”, Mabanta said.
Based on military and police records, Nanta was responsible for the
ambush of a government-owned vehicle in Barangay Salamanca in Toboso
town, Negros Occidental last July 13, 2009.
Eryl Baynosa, 42, one of the survivor and son of Eriberto Baynosa,
former barangay Chaiman of Salamanca in Toboso, Negros Occidental,
pointed to Nanta as the leader of armed men who carried out the ambush.
The said incidents claimed the lives of Edmar Sultan, 14, a student
of the Toboso National High School, Rodolfo Salipod, 56, driver of the
barangay service vehicle, and Ena Pata, 50.
Earlier, families of the survivors claimed to be anxious about
Nanta's release. They firmly believe then that Nanta will rejoin his
group and get back at them.
Aside from the crimes Nanta was accused of, reports claimed that
Nanta was allegedly responsible for the raid and disarming of the 1st
Provincial Mobile Group detachment at Barangay Malasibog, Escalante on
March 19, 2006; harassment of Villegas Detachment at Barangay Villegas,
Guihulngan, Negros Oriental on April 2006; arson incident at the
Victorias Milling Company and Central Lopez transloading station at
Barangay San Jose, Toboso on March 2008; and the burning of the Globe
Telecom cell site in Purok Mabuhay, Barangay Poblacion, Toboso, Negros
Occidental.
The list also includes the attack of La Libertad Police Station in
Negros Oriental in 2008; raid of ECJ farm at Barangay Suay, Himamaylan
on February 2009; raid of Polopangyan detachment located in Barangay
Bug-ang, Toboso on 28 August 2010, for disarming and sabotage of VMC
pump station in Barangay 20, Victorias City last October 2010 and the
harassment of the Polopangyan detachment in Toboso on March 29, 2011, in
an attempt to celebrate the NPA founding anniversary, which led to the
death of an 11 year old girl named Arni 'baby' Amion.
Meanwhile, the military cited more cases where Caña intervened for the release of suspected NPA rebels.
One of them was Marilyn Badayos alyas Eunice/Jonna, top NPA commander
operating in Southern Negros, who was arrested last June 18, 2011 in
Bacolod City. She rejoined her group after her release last Nov. 9,
2011.
Sometime in 2005, Hermina Compoc alyas Pilay, an NPA member, was
apprehended in Bohol. She is now operating with her group in Southern
Negros.
On the other hand, Emma Calderon, another NPA member operating in
Central Negros, was apprehended in Canlaon City sometime 2003 and later
rejoined her group after being released. She eventually surrendered to
the authorities last 2009.
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Jaime Laude | The Philippine Star | July 4, 2012 | Article Link
Saturday, June 30, 2012
13 Philippine communist rebels killed in clashes
Philippine
soldiers killed 13 communist guerrilla rebels in two separate clashes
on Saturday, in what military officials described as one of the biggest
victories over the insurgents in years.
Military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said both clashes were a result of tip-offs from civilians, which showed that the government's new counter-insurgency strategy was working.
"This is by far the largest number of NPA casualties in one single encounter in recent history," he said, describing the San Narciso clash.
Fifteen rebels were setting up an ambush for troops on a roadside when soldiers intercepted them, said local army commander Colonel Eduardo Ano.
Two soldiers were also wounded in the 30-minute gunfight, he said, adding that six guns and two grenade launchers were recovered.
"The (local population) gave us information. They must be getting tired of the NPA," Ano told AFP.
Just hours earlier, soldiers clashed with about a dozen NPA fighters in Botolan, killing two and capturing four, said local army commander, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Samson.
Five rifles and two grenades were recovered in the incident, he said in a statement.
The NPA is the armed unit of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been waging one of Asia's longest running insurgencies that began in 1969.
The government has said the NPA is largely deflated after years of losses in the battlefield with only about 4,000 fighters nationwide as of 2011 from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s.
However the group remains active, attacking military and police outposts and looting and extorting money from rural businesses like mining companies and plantations.
In April, the guerrillas killed 11 soldiers and a civilian in a daring ambush of three army convoys.
President Benigno Aquino's government re-opened peace talks with the communists in February last year but the talks have been delayed by the rebels' demand to release detained comrades.
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Yahoo News Online | June 30, 2012 | Article Link
Monday, June 25, 2012
3 NPA rebels killed in Sarangani-Davao Sur border clash
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels
were killed while several others were believed wounded in an encounter
with government troops over the weekend in the mountainous boundaries of
Sarangani and Davao del Sur provinces.
Lt. Col. Adolfo Espuelas Jr., commanding officer of the Army’s 73rd
Infantry Battalion, said the clash occurred after they responded on
Saturday morning to reports on the presence of NPA rebels in villages
situated along the boundaries of Malapatan town in Sarangani and Jose
Abad Santos in Davao del Sur.
He said their troops caught up with around 25 heavily-armed rebels in
Sitio Datal D'lag, Barangay Kulaman of Jose Abad Santos town, where a
two-hour firefight ensued.
“We sent our troops to the area to address complaints from tribal
residents there that a group of NPA rebels had been reportedly
harassing, extorting and forcing them to attend their lectures,”
Espuelas said.
After the encounter, the official said they recovered the bodies of
three NPA rebels who were only identified by local residents through
aliases Marvin, Bobong and Berting.
An undetermined number of rebels were supposedly wounded during the clash as claimed by local residents, Espuelas said.
He said they recovered two M14 rifles, an M16 Armalite rifle, a handheld radio and assorted bullets from the slain rebels.
There were no casualties on the government side, he added.
Citing results of their initial verification, Espuelas said aliases
Marvin and Bobong were allegedly team leaders of Squads 1 and 2,
respectively, of the “Sentro de Grabidad Andoy” of the NPA’s Front 71
headed by Kumander Brigol.
As of Monday morning, he said no one had come forward to claim the
remains of the slain rebels, who were brought to this city late Saturday
by a Philippine Air Force chopper.
Espuelas said their troops are currently conducting follow-up operations in a bid to clear the area of the NPA’s presence.
He said the Army’s 1002nd Infantry Brigade based in Malungon town has
sent additional troopers under its Task Force Mulawin to augment the
clearing operations.
The
task force was created earlier this month as part of the renewed
operations launched by the 1002nd Brigade against NPA rebels who had
taken refuge in upland villages of Malungon town in Sarangani.
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Friday, June 08, 2012
6 of Morong 43 'now back with NPA' – Army
MANILA, Philippines - Six of the 43 health workers earlier
arrested and tagged as communist rebels have gone back to the mountains
with the New People's Army (NPA), an Army official said.
Col. Ivan Samarita, commander of the Army's 202nd Brigade,
said the six are now serving as political and medical staff of the
rebel group.
They were identified as Janice Javier, Franco Remoroso,
and Yolanda Macaraig operating in Batangas; and Myrna Olarte, Romeo dela
Cruz and Pearl Irene Martinez in Rizal.
"They are really NPAs. They said before they were not NPAs but this proves they are," Samarita told defense reporters.
The 43 health workers were arrested in the mountains of
Morong, Rizal in February 2010, thus earning them the title "Morong 43."
They were accused of being communist rebels, which they vehemently
denied.
Police and military personnel then said they confiscated
several explosive components from the group. However, of the 43
health workers, five have admitted to being NPA rebels and remain under
military custody, while the remaining 38 were eventually released after
the government withdrew charges against them.
"It was really a political decision that we in the Armed
Forces had to abide by because it's the President who ordered it,"
Samarita said.
Last month, eight of the "Morong 43" filed torture charges
against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and several police
and military officials.
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| June 8, 2012 | Article Link
Friday, May 11, 2012
Friday, May 04, 2012
NPA officer nabbed in Surigao Sur / NPA arrested for Landmines
NPA Officer nabbed in Surigao Sur - Army
MANILA, Philippines -- An alleged officer of the New People’s Army
was arrested by authorities in Lianga, Surigao del Sur Wednesday, the
Army reported belatedly.
A statement released by the 4th Infantry Division said Hermes
Domandan, alias Teddy Bagger, alleged team leader of the Sandatahang
Yunit Pangpropaganda and political and finance officer of Platoon 8,
Guerilla Front 19B, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, was
arrested in Barangay Diatago.
He was the subject of a warrant of arrest for rebellion issued by the
Executive Judge of Branch 28 Regional Trial Court Lianga Alfredo Jalad.
Seized from Domandan were a hand grenade, three cell phones, a memory card, chargers and P9,760 cash.
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| May 4, 2012 | Article Link
Driver in Compostela Valley yields 'NPA' landmines
MANILA, Philippines - Police and military authorities
intercepted and arrested a 35-year-old truck driver caught transporting
several improvised landmines in Pantukan, Compostela Valley.
Oliver Balusan, a resident of Bislig City, was intercepted
and apprehended at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at a checkpoint along
the National Highway Townsiye, Barangay Kingking.
Balusan yielded 12 pieces of improvised landmines (7.5
inches in diameter) and other suspected incendiary devices found in his
white Fuso dump truck.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Jerry Borja, Commander of the 71st Infantry
Battalion, said “based on the kind and make of these landmines, there
is no doubt that they are owned by the "Organized Crime Group-New
People’s Army (OCG-NPA)."
Accordingly, these landmines are bigger than the ones used in Libay-libay, Maco landmine attack.
Borja said a piece of these landmines has a killing radius
of 50 meters, if three are combined, anyone within five meters can be
killed by its blast alone even without the shrapnel. If all 12 are
combined, it can easily collapse a "two-story building.”
The confiscated items were brought to Pantukan Police Station for proper handling and disposition.
Brig. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, Commander of Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the use of landmines is a violation of international law.
“The use of landmines is a violation of the provisions of
CARHRIHL specifically Part III, Article 2, Paragraph 15. We condemn to
the highest degree the NPA’s continued use of these banned landmines,”
Bernardo said.
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| May 4, 2012 | Article Link
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Army chief, guv invite rebel leader to talk peace
PHILIPPINE Army chief Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista and Negros
Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. invited anew Ka Frank
Fernandez, head of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's
Army (CPP-NPA), to come out and sit down with a negotiating panel for a
peace talk.
"I respect Ka Frank, a former priest. If given a chance, I am willing
to sit down with him for possible peace talks. We are inviting him to
sit down and discuss with him problems and possibly come up with a
solution," Bautista said.
Bautista made the statement after he paid a courtesy call on Marañon
at the governor's office Wednesday with Colonel Oscar Lactao, commanding
officer of the 303rd Brigade and Major General Jose Mabanta, Commanding
General of the 3rd ID.
Baustita said that Ka Frank has been issuing statements to the media.
"I believe that he is still alive. I hope I would be given a chance to see him in person and talk peace with him," he said.
Marañon, on the other hand, emphasized that he has been extending his invitation to Ka Frank and the NPA for local peace talks.
"That has been my long standing invitation. I am very much willing to
sit down with him and, if he is sick, I will bring him to be the first
patient of the newly-built extension of the Teresita Jalandoni
Provincial Hospital," Marañon said.
Marañon started extending his invitation to Ka Frank and the NPA for
localized peace talks since his inaugural speech after he won the
governorship in 2010. He has been reiterating this in his speeches
during relevant occasions in the province.
Marañon, in fact, said that under his administration, the Provincial
Government has been giving support to the rebel returnees by giving them
livelihood projects, sources of income, jobs and scholarships for their
dependent children.
There are already about 40 rebel returnees in the province under the
Marañon administration and under the leadership of Lactao in the 303rd
Brigade.
Bautista also bared that in as much as the government would like to
pursue peace talks with the NPA, there are still obstacles hounding the
peace process which he did not elaborate on.
"I hope that we can iron out problems because it is only through
peace talks that we would be able to resolve the long armed conflict,"
he said.
He also said more Filipinos have already realized that the long struggle should be put to an end through peaceful solutions.
"I believe that we are gaining the peace in the sense that more
people realized that this has been a long struggle. That violence is not
the answer. Let's give peace a chance," Bautista said.
However, he said is it unfortunate that the rebels reply to the
government's invitation by sowing violence, citing the recent encounters
that claimed a number of lives of the soldiers and the rebels.
Bautista also described the peace and order in the province as
gaining improvement and that, he said, he also expects more improvement
in the coming days.
Marañon also described the army's performance in the province under Lactao as satisfactory.
Two top NPA leaders were already apprehended under Lactao's term, namely Romeo Nanta and Hernando Llorente.
However, the two were released from jail after they posted bail, which according to Bautista is part of the rule of law.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teresa Ellera | SunStar.Com.Ph | May 3, 2012 | Article Link
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