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

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.

Eleven New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed around noon in San Narciso town, south of Manila, while two rebels were killed in a pre-dawn gunbattle in Botolan town, northwest of the capital.

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

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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Philippine News Agency/InterAksyon.Com | June 25, 2012 | Article Link

Police kill rebel who kidnapped Americans

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AFP) - Police shot dead a Muslim guerrilla who was allegedly behind the kidnapping of two Americans in the southern Philippines, officials said on Monday, June 18.

Police commandos killed Wahid Pingli in a raid Sunday, June 17, on his home on Sacol island, off the coast of Zamboanga City, said regional commander Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles.

He allegedly abducted American Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann and her 14-year-old son Kevin as well as a teenage Filipino nephew while they were vacationing in the troubled south in July.

"Wahid's group are also said to be responsible for extortion activities, harassment and kidnapping of prominent families and teachers in this city," Estilles told reporters.

The mother and the Filipino relative were freed unharmed in October while Kevin Lunsmann walked free in December amid suspicions that ransom was paid.

Documents found in the raid showed that Pingli was a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Muslim separatist group that is engaged in peace talks with the government, Estilles said.

An assault rifle, a grenade launcher and bullets were also recovered, the police commander added.

MILF spokesman Von al-Haq confirmed that Pingli was a member but denied that he was involved in kidnappings.

"He is innocent and we are still confirming the veracity of the reports against our slain comrade," he told AFP.

The MILF will file a protest with the government over the killing which violated the ceasefire agreement between the two sides, he added.

The MILF waged a rebellion for more than three decades, originally for the establishment of an independent state in Mindanao, the southern third of the mainly Catholic Philippines.

In recent years it has dropped its independence demand and signed a ceasefire with Manila in order to negotiate for autonomous control over large areas of Mindanao.

However many Muslim extremists have turned to kidnapping for ransom to raise money, often targeting foreigners.

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Agence France-Presse | June 18, 2012 | Article Link

2 soldiers killed in Albay clash with NPA

MANILA, Philippines – Two soldiers were killed in an encounter with communist rebels early Wednesday in Albay, a military spokesman said.

Citing reports from Lieutenant Colonel Audrey Pacia of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Major Harold Cabunoc said the two were killed by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA)while doing security operations in Sinungtan village in Guinobatan town at 12:50 a.m.

The soldiers were identified as Privates First Class Jayvi Villagomez and Alfredo Leonillo Jr. They sustained fatal gunshots.

It was believed that the incident was in retaliation of the arrest of Carlito Rebamba known as Ka Renan of the NPA in Tastas village, Ligao City last June 9.

Renan has a warrant of arrest for a series of murders and burning a police station in Pio Duran.

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Frances Mangosing INQUIRER.net | June 13, 2012 | Article Link

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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Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com | June 8, 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

‘Morong 5’ to testify for military

Being comrades apparently has its limits.

Five members of the so-called “Morong 43” are willing to testify against their former comrades who have accused the military of torture when they were arrested as communist rebels two years ago in a private resort in Morong, Rizal.

Ellen Carandang said she and the four others who have swung over to the government side were willing to testify that they were not tortured in case of a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation.

The “Morong 5” have confessed to being New People’s Army (NPA) members and chosen to stay in Camp Capinpin as rebel returnees. The camp is the headquarters of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.

“I want to tell our former comrades that we are ready to testify against them, to tell the truth,” Carandang, speaking in Filipino, told reporters in Camp Capinpin on Saturday.

“You can say that some are legitimate (medical practitioners), but they help the NPA,” she added.

“Their claim that there was torture, that’s not true,” said Jenilyn Pizarro, who last year married a soldier she had met in the camp. She was then 19.

Carandang, Pizarro and Valentino Paulino faced reporters in the presence of Maj. Gen. Eduardo Del Rosario, the 2nd Infantry Division commander. Two other members of their group—Cherilyn Tawagon and John Mark Barrientos—did not show up.

No torture

Last week, a lawyer for eight other members of the “Morong 43” filed a case of torture at the DOJ against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, two former military chiefs and 16 other security personnel. The eight claimed they were tortured while detained at Camp Capinpin.

Del Rosario said that since Carandang and the four others were not tortured, it would follow that the others also were not tortured.

“The five told the truth,” Del Rosario said. “They are members of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines). They were conducting a seminar on how to give first aid in case someone is wounded in an encounter.”

Carandang claimed one of the eight complainants, whom she said is a doctor, taught emergency surgery very well. She also said the owner of the resort where they held the seminar did not know about what the group was doing.

Military claim

Carandang, Pizarro and Paulino said they were all being treated well in the camp. “No good would have come out if we had continued to stay in the mountains. We would only have further neglected our families,” Carandang said.

Her husband has stayed behind with the NPA with one of their children. They have had no communication for a year, she said.

The Morong 43 were health workers arrested in the military raid on  Feb. 6, 2010. The military claimed they were NPA cadres training in making bombs.

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the charges against them withdrawn. They were freed before Christmas that year. Six of them later sued Arroyo for damages.

On Thursday, eight members of the group also accused Arroyo and 18 others, including military and police officers, of torture.

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Dona Z. Pazzibugan | Philippine Daily Inquirer | May 14, 2012 | Article Link

150 flee fighting between NPA, troops in Agusan del Sur

MANILA, Philippines -- Forty families, or more than 150 individuals, most of them children, have fled their homes in a remote village of Trento town, Agusan del Sur to escape heavy fighting between communist guerrillas and government troops that broke out Monday.

The fighting began when soldiers from the 25th Infantry Battalion spotted New People’s Army fighters in Barangay New Visayas.

The soldiers had been meeting the villagers as part of the government’s counterinsurgency program, Oplan Bayanihan.

The displaced families sought shelter in the nearby village of Pulang Lupa.

Others remained at the multi-purpose hall of New Visayas.

The evacuees said military air strikes were launched at the height of the fighting.

Ricardo Caduplana, an evacuee, counted at least eight bomb explosions.

“The fighting lasted from eight in the morning until noontime. The military sent in choppers and attack planes in the afternoon and dropped around eight bombs,” he said.

Caduplana and the other residents said they would not have left their village if they did not fear for the safety of their children.

“The children were very scared. They could not stop crying,” he said.

But the military said the residents needed to leave the village to allow the soldiers to pursue the rebels.

Ailyn Quilaton fled the village with her two young children, who were sleeping at the floor of the evacuation center.

“We have not brought anything. We fled after hearing the first burst of gunfire,” she said.

“Unta magsinabtanay na lang (I hope the two parties will stop the war),” she said.

“We have not received reports of civilian casualties or damaged properties. But we have IDPs (internally displaced persons), which is something unavoidable in times of clashes because civilians really get scared. Right now, we are taking care of them,” said Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Benavides of the 75th Infantry Battalion.

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Jefry M. Tupas | TV5 Davao/InterAksyon.Com | May 9, 2012 | Article Link

AFP: ‘Morong 38’ not tortured

The military on Friday said it would fight the criminal charges brought against some of its officers by eight left-leaning health workers and prove the complainants wrong.

Speaking to reporters at Camp Aguinaldo, Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., the military’s spokesperson, said the military had evidence to show that the so-called Morong 43 were not tortured while in detention.

The Morong 43 were health workers arrested in a military raid on a resort in Morong, Rizal province, on Feb. 6, 2010. The military said they were communist New People’s Army (NPA) cadres training in making bombs. President Aquino, who took over from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in June 2010, ordered the charges against them withdrawn. They were freed before Christmas that year.

Six of the Morong 43 have sued Arroyo for damages.

On Thursday, eight more accused her and 18 others, including military and police officers, of torture in a complaint filed in the Department of Justice. It was the first human rights case involving criminal charges brought against a former Philippine president.

Burgos said the military officers involved in the arrest of the Morong 43 had received commendations and promotions.

He said President Aquino recently promoted Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia, the commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal province, at the time of the arrests, to commanding general of the military in Eastern Mindanao.

‘It’s Morong 38’

“We will do everything to come up with the best defense for our soldiers who were just performing their duties and responsibilities, and who have attested that there was no torture committed,” Burgos said.

“It is never a policy of the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] to commit human rights violations, more so torture. We have long condemned this practice in our ranks,” he added.

Burgos said it was wrong to continue to refer to the group as Morong 43 because five of them have admitted to being NPA rebels.

The five remain in military custody. They are treated as rebel returnees.

“It’s not Morong 43, but Morong 38. The other five have a big role in supporting the claims of our soldiers and in refuting the charges against them,” Burgos said.

Thirty-five of the health workers were released in December 2010 on orders from President Aquino following a finding by the Department of Justice that the warrant for their arrest was defective.

Three remain in detention, as they are facing other criminal charges in court.

The eight health workers who sued Arroyo claimed they were tortured and made to suffer other abuses in the Army’s Camp Capinpin in Tanay.

Sued with Arroyo were two former military chiefs, Generals Victor Ibrado and Delfin Bangit; Segovia; Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad; Army Colonels Joey Reyes and Cristobal Zaragosa; Police Superintendents Marion Balonglong and Allan Nobleza; Maj. Manuel Tabon; Lt. Jovilee Cabading; a certain Vicente Lopez; female jail guards identified only as Calaoagan, Cea and Idloy; a certain Bulaklak; a John Doe, a Jane Doe and a Mickey Doe.

Executing arrest warrant

Burgos said the military personnel involved were adamant that the health workers were never tortured.

He said the military was obliged to provide legal assistance to its accused personnel.

“It was a legitimate operation. Together with the Philippine National Police, they were only executing an arrest warrant issued by a civilian court,” Burgos said.

But Ibrado and Bangit have to get their own lawyers, as they are already retired.

Ibrado and Bangit were sued for command responsibility, Burgos said.

There was no further word Friday from the Arroyo camp about the suit. On Thursday, Arroyo’s spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, said the former President would answer the charges against her at the proper time.

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Dona Z. Pazzibugan | Philippine Daily Inquirer | May 5, 2012 | Article Link

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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Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com | 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 71^st 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 10^th 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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Abigail Kwok/Jaime Sinapit | InterAksyon.com | May 4, 2012 | Article Link

Two rebels, soldier killed in Philippine clashes

Two communist rebels and a soldier have been killed in separate clashes as insurgents stepped up their attacks in the Philippines, military officials said Sunday.

New People's Army (NPA) rebels ambushed a group of soldiers in a remote village in Compostela Valley province in the southern island of Mindanao late Saturday, local infantry battalion chief Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Borja said.

One soldier was blown apart while seven of his colleagues were wounded in a landmine placed by the rebels in the ambush area, he said.

"The use of landmine by the NPA is another violation on the provisions of the international human rights law," Borja said.

Meanwhile, NPA rebels also attacked a column of soldiers on routine patrol in Quezon province just south of the capital Manila early Sunday, triggering a gun battle, army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc said.

Two guerrillas were killed in the "running gun battle that ensued," he said.

In both cases, officials said the soldiers were responding to complaints by civilians of rebel harassments, including extortion activities.

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.

Last week, the guerrillas killed 11 soldiers and a civilian in a daring ambush of three army convoys led by a senior military official.

One of those killed in what was described as the NPA's most audacious attack in recent years was an army captain, but the apparent target -- a battalion commander -- survived the ambush.

The government last year boasted it had decimated the NPA ranks in many remote areas, putting its strength to about 4,000 fighters nationwide as of 2011 from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s.

Peace talks between the government and the rebels were suspended in November, when Manila rejected demands to free 18 guerrillas the NPA said were consultants to its negotiators.

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AFP News/Yahoo News Online | April 29, 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 defends arrest of NDFP 'peace consultant'

Government peace officials on Monday night defended the arrest of a supposed peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines last April 3.

 

In a statement posted on its website, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said Reynante Gamara was arrested by virtue of a warrant for kidnapping with murder.

 

"Mr. Gamara’s arrest on 3 April 2012 was a police action based on an outstanding warrant for kidnapping with murder (Criminal Cases No. 11-3248 and 11-3249) issued on 23 March 2012 by Judge Rodolfo D. Obnamia, Jr. of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 64 in Mauban, Quezon," it said.

 

Earlier reports said NDFP chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni had accused the government of violating a peace immunity agreement with the arrest of Gamara.

 

Gamara, who was reportedly arrested in Rizal province, is supposedly a campaigner of party-list Bayan Muna.

 

Jalandoni was quoted as saying that Gamara was a consultant of the NDFP with an assumed name of Siling Perez, and his arrest violated the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

 

But the OPAPP reiterated its position that the JASIG is effectively "inoperative," as a "logical consequence" of the NDFP’s failure to comply with the terms of the verification mechanism.

 

"As such, there is currently no basis to verify if the alleged consultant Reynante Gamara who used the pseudonym 'Siling Perez' is supposed to be covered by an immunity guarantee," it said.

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RSJ | GMA News Online | April 17, 2012 | Article Link

Army to block rebels’ plan to retake insurgent-free provinces

LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte - A military official vowed to block rebels’ effort to retake insurgent-free provinces in the Visayas even as they shift their thrust from combat operation to implementation of development projects.

Colonel John Bonafos, commander of 802nd brigade of the Philippine Army based in Camp Downes, Ormoc City, said they are stepping up their coordination with local government units and other government agencies to ensure that rebels will not regain their strength.

The brigade covers the insurgent-free provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran. It is the only Philippine Army headquarters in the entire country with all covered areas officially declared as rebel-cleared.

“We will continue our support operations particularly in the development aspects needed by people. After we have attained peace, we will move to development phase like construction of classrooms, road repair, and road widening,” Bonafos said in the sidelines of the First Mass anniversary here.

Among the five provinces, Biliran was the first to gain the insurgent-free status with the joint declaration of the Army and local government unit in December 2008. 

Cebu and Bohol were cleared from rebel activities in March 2010. 

Insurgent-free classification of Southern Leyte and Leyte was pronounced in September and December 2011, respectively.

“The situation of these Visayas provinces exemplifies that we can attain the insurgent-free status through multi-stakeholders participation,” he said.

For insurgent-free areas, the military turned over the lead role in maintaining the internal security to its local executives and police. The military has set a six-month parameter as basis in declaring whether the area can be confirmed free of rebel’s threat. 

A province is categorized as insurgency-free when the threat posed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is successfully downgraded into a mere law and order problem.

He said they will not allow the CPP-NPA to retake these provinces amid reports of new recruitment activities particularly in Cebu.

“The Army is counting on the support of local chief executives. If governors and mayors will participate, half of the problem is already solved,” Bonafos said.

The official also sought the help from the private sector since peace and order will not only affect government activities but business operations as well.

The crossfire incident in Kananga, Leyte that killed botanist Leonardo Co last November 2010 was the last encounter between government troops and insurgents recorded by the Philippine Army’s 802nd brigade under its command of responsibility.

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Leyte-Samar Daily Express | SunStar.Com.Ph | April 11, 2012 | Article Link

2 dead, 5 wounded in North Cotabato bus blast - military

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- (UPDATE 4 - 2:15 p.m.) Two persons were killed and at least five wounded when a bomb exploded on a passenger bus in North Cotabato Wednesday morning, the military said, drastically scaling down its original casualty count.

Lieutenant Colonel Benjie Hao told reporters the death toll was confirmed after soldiers reached the scene of the blast.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command, had initially announced 10 fatalities and two wounded.

Galon said the Rural Area Transit bus with the body number 2922 had just reached the terminal in Carmen town around 10:25 a.m. when the improvised explosive device planted in the vehicle’s baggage compartment went off.

All the casualties were passengers on the bus, which was traveling from Tacurong City to Cagayan de Oro.

The Eastmincom identified the fatalities as Analyn Sioco, 33, of Malanduage in Kabacan, and Rona Mae Causing, 18, of Bukidnon.

Four of the wounded were identified as Denia Causin of Bukidnon, Alan Hampiso, 36, of Magpet, his six-year old son, Janel Cosca, 11, from Bukidnon. They were rushed to the Kabacan Medical Specialist hospital.

The Rural Area Transit has been attacked in the past in which authorities believe to be extortion attempts by criminal syndicates.

On October 21, 2010, a powerful bomb ripped through a bus of the firm, which was en route to Tacurong City, killing 10 people and wounding several others.

On March 13 this year, a bomb also exploded in a bus at the public terminal in Tacurong City, wounding one.

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Jefry M. Tupas/Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com/TV5 Davao | April 11, 2012 | Article Link

One killed in military-NPA clash in Bukidnon

MANILA, Philippines — An Army private was killed in an encounter between military forces and New People’s Army rebels in Kibalabag village in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Monday afternoon, the military said Tuesday.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon of the Eastern Mindanao Command said the troops under a certain First Lieutenant Galope encountered about 20 rebels at around 4:30 p.m.

An Army corporal was also injured in the 10-minute firefight.

Meanwhile, the slain soldier, whose name was withheld until his kin were notified, sustained fatal gunshot wounds on his right chest, Galon said.

Casualties on the enemy side were not yet determined, he added.

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Frances Mangosing | INQUIRER.net | April 3, 2012 | Article Link

Army says 6 top Red leaders in Luzon fall

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Government troops captured three suspected Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leaders in Central Luzon and three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels after a clash in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, on Wednesday, the military reported on Thursday.

The gunfight in Barangay Sto. Niño in Sta. Rosa led to the arrest of Efren Delalamon, Carla Ramos Bautista and Andres Lapuz Ely, reported to be all CPP regional leaders, and John Michael Ilito, Felix Sarabia and Ambrosio Ilito, according to a report from the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

The report did not state the positions held by Delalamon and Ely, who went by the aliases Baste and Marco, respectively. Delalamon was wounded in the arm during the clash.

Bautista, alias Joy, was identified as political instructor of the CPP’s Central Luzon regional committee while Ely was the party finance committee head.

“It’s too early to ascertain the impact of their arrest on the communist rebel movement,” said Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, chief of the military’s Northern Luzon Command.

The six suspected rebels surrendered when soldiers and policemen cornered them after the clash, said Col. Hilario Vicente Lagnada, commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion.

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Tonette Orejas | Inquirer Central Luzon | April 2, 2012 | Article Link

Sub-leader of Abu Sayyaf killed in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) -- A sub-leader of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf was killed in an ambush staged by lawless elements in Southern Philippine town of Al Barkah, Basilan Province, before noon Sunday, the military said.

Long Malat Sulayman, alias Long Malat, the sub-leader of Abu Sayyaf in Al Barkah and nearby Tipo-tipo, was attacked by a group of "local lawless elements" due to clan war around 11 a.m., said Col. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 104th Brigade and Joint Task Force Basilan.

Visaya said Sulayman was hit in the leg and died of blood loss around 3 p.m. His body was later brought to Makalang village, also in Al Barkah town.

He added that Sulayman was the only Abu Sayyaf sub-leader who was hit in the ambush, which was followed by a firefight between the two sides.

Asked what will be the effect of Sulayman's death to the Abu Sayyaf, Visaya said: "Long Malat is a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf, so this will be a big loss to their leadership. They will be in disarray for the meantime that they have no leader."

As to the motive of the attack, the official said: "Those who staged the ambush have a land conflict with Malat. The rubber industry is booming here so what they need is space to plant. They have been fighting over land to plant rubber." 

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The Philippine Star | April 1, 2012 | Article Link