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

Gov’t orders intensified intel amid NPA attack in Albay

MANILA, Philippines -- Intensified intelligence activities are now in place across the country amid the torching of over P100 million worth of heavy-duty construction equipment by alleged members of the New People’s Army in Albay on Friday night.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said authorities are now coordinating with people on the ground, but intelligence operations will also be intensified across the country.

Two soldiers were wounded when alleged members of the communist group attacked an ongoing construction of the international airport in Barangay Alobo at around 9:35 p.m. on Friday.

The commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, Col. Arthur Ang, said around eight members of the NPA harassed an Army detachment, which has been providing security at the construction site.

“Without our soldiers, all equipment and facilities could have been burned,” Ang said.

Two dump trucks, one backhoe, two articulated trucks, two payloaders, two road rollers and one grader were burned by another group of rebels.

The pieces of equipment are owned by Sunwest Corp.

The rebels have allegedly asked for revolutionary taxes from the private firm.

“This is a desperate move by the NPA rebels because Sunwest Corporation will never concede to their extortion demands,” Ang said.

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ABS-CBNnews.com | May 20, 2012 | Article Link

PDI read-along takes center stage in PH-US humanitarian mission in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—More than 3,000 children trooped to a series of reading activities on the first three days of the six-day PH-US Pacific Angel humanitarian mission in Albay province, an official of the Philippine Navy said Thursday.

Lieutenant Darwin Nieva, spokesman of the Joint Task Force Bayanihan, said the prototype for their “Kiddie Corner and Feeding” program was the read-along of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which was a partner during the anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy last year.

Nieva said the children’s corners in four designated sites were packed with kids who sat through six reading sessions held each day per site.

The sites, he said, included central Bayanihan in Barangay (village) Tagas and the Binitayan Elementary School, both in Daraga town, and the two mobile sites in the towns of Guinobatan and Sto. Domingo.

Initiated by volunteers from the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Daraga chapter and the Dios Mabalos Po Foundation, the program catered to children whose elders had waited in line for the medical and dental services at the sites.

Young professionals, businessmen, US doctors and Air Force personnel served as the storytellers who interacted with the children in the reading event while the Dios Mabalos Po Foundation took charge of the feeding program.

Lt. Colonel Augusto Gaite of the Philippine Air Force, a key player in the mission, said at the start of the mission on Monday that at least 99 US soldiers had put up a tent hospital in this city with over 700 residents of Albay availing themselves of the free medical and dental services.

More than 10,000 residents of Albay were expected to benefit from the mission, said Lt. Col. Michael Black  of the US Air Force and head of Pacific Angel.

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By Mar S. Arguelles | Inquirer Southern Luzon | March 8th, 2012 | Article Link

GI mission in Albay targets 10,000 people

LEGAZPI CITY—At least 10,000 of the poorest of the poor in Albay were expected to avail themselves of free medical services courtesy of American soldiers in a mission viewed with suspicion by the militant left.

The humanitarian mission, put together by the US and Philippine military, started giving free medical and dental services to at least 700 residents of Albay on Monday.

Dubbed “Pacific Angel,” the mission is being carried out by 381 American and Filipino enlisted men, said Lt. Col. Augusto Gaite, of the Philippine Air Force and key player in the mission.

Lt. Col. Michael Black, of the US Air Force and head of Pacific Angel, said more than 10,000 residents of Albay were expected to benefit from the mission.

At the start of the mission on Sunday, at least 99 US soldiers put up a tent hospital in this city. Tents, equipment and supply were brought in aboard two US military cargo planes.

US soldiers also provided free medical, dental and optometry services to residents in the towns of Guinobatan and Sto. Domingo.

Other US soldiers repaired classrooms in this city and in the town of Daraga. They replaced roofs, ceilings, windows and doors. They also fixed electrical systems and painted walls in the classrooms.

The mission, however, was viewed with suspicion by the left. A spokesperson of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Bicol said the mission was just a “publicity gimmick to divert attention from its real purpose which is to make the presence of US troops in the country more acceptable.”

Missions like the one brought by US soldiers in Albay, according to Bayan Bicol spokesperson John Concepcion, “are always paired with surveillance operations and spying.”

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Mar S. Arguelles | Inquirer Southern Luzon | Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 | Article Link

Suspected NPA member killed in Albay

MANILA, Philippines – A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with government soldiers in Oas town, Albay Friday, the military said.

The fatality has yet to be identified but Oas police said he was not a resident in the area.

The military swooped down on the rebels’ hideout after its location was revealed by the residents of Sitio Maigang, Barangay Tablon.

The rebels in the area are allegedly involved in extortion activities.

The military also suspects that the rebel soldiers have been recruiting in the area based on the documents and computers recovered from the hideout.

Several high-powered firearms were also recovered from the scene.

Three squads have been dispatched to the area to track down the rebels while police teams are also manning checkpoints in the nearby towns of Pio Duran, Guinobatan and Ligao City. 

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Report from Thea Omelan, 

ABS-CBN News

Posted at 03/03/2012 3:25 PM

Article Link

1 soldier killed, another hurt in Albay ambush

One soldier was killed and another wounded when an armed group ambushed them Saturday morning in Daraga, Albay in the Bicol Region, a military spokesman said.

Lieutenant Colonel Audrey Pasia, spokesman for the 9th Infantry Division, said 10 soldiers had been sent for the medical mission upon the request of local officials of Barangay Nabasan. They had with them a civilian doctor when they were fired upon around 9:20 a.m. at the boundary of Barangay San Vicente Grande and Nabasan.

According to Pasia, the soldiers then got off the military truck and engaged the attackers in a 15-minute firefight. The bandits fled, leaving one lieutenant, whose name has been withheld, dead, while Private First Class Genesis Broso was wounded.

Broso is now in a stable condition at a local hospital in Legaspi City, Pasia added. Doctor Ramon Martin, the civilian doctor, was unhurt.

“We will never flinch in our efforts to help the poor people in our area despite this senseless attack by the rebels. We denounced the attack that resulted to the killing of my soldier," said Pasia.

Ninth infantry division Chief Major General Josue Gaverza Jr. has already directed 901st commander Colonel Arthur Ang to begin pursuit operations on the rebels, who had escaped along with the casualties from their side.

Guzman noted that this has been the second attack on an Army medical mission in the past two months. In October, a medical mission on a banca en route to their site in Masbate was fired upon by New People's Army rebels. —with Bea Cupin /LBG, GMA News

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