Army troops overrun at least 15 NPA camps in North Cotabato, offers reconciliation

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 10): Army troops overrun at least 15 NPA camps in North Cotabato, offers reconciliation

Government forces have overran at least 15 major and minor camps of the communist guerillas in the hinterlands of Magpet, North Cotabato since last month, a regional military official said Monday. Some of these camps have overhead bunkers, fortifications and running trenches. Elements of the 57th, 40th and 7th Infantry Battalions with forces from Army Special Forces and paramilitary troops have been pursuing New People's Army (NPA) guerillas who were mulcting from farmers in Magpet's upland villages.

 Colonel Ademar Tomaro, commander of the 602nd Brigade, lauded the cooperation extended by village officials in identifying the location of NPA hideouts. "The rebels have been forcibly collecting taxes from hapless farmers who are harvesting crops since last month," Tomaro said in a statement. At least three villages of Magpet had been infiltrated by communist rebels who came from the borders of North Cotabato and Davao City. Magpet is situated at the western side of the country’s highest peak – Mt. Apo. Although no body count was established, the military believed the NPAs suffered heavy casualties based on statements from villagers who claimed they saw wounded fighters carried by the rebels as they fled from mortar shelling.

Major Gen. Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, which has jurisdiction over 602nd brigade, has repeated his earlier appeals for communist guerillas to avail of the reconciliation program of the government. “These operations were launched in response to mounting complaints by local residents on the abuses by the NPAs,” Ordoyo said, adding that the military is recognizing ideological differences among all sectors provided its expression would be done peacefully. Ordoyo said the military is also reiterating its earlier offer for wounded rebels to avail of military medical facilities and fighters to avail of the government’s reconciliation program if they decide to return to the fold of law.

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