From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 14): Army, PNP in North, South Cotabato
on alert vs. NPAs who violate SOMO
Police and military authorities in South and North Cotabato have intensified
patrol operations against communist guerillas who took advantage of the
government's suspension of military action to terrorize and harass civilians.
Col. Prudencio Asto, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said soldiers
from the 57th Infantry Battalion have prevented a bloody weekend when they
chanced upon communist New People's Army preparing explosives in Arakan, North
Cotabato.
A 30-minute firefight ensued, forcing the guerillas to flee deep into the
mountains of Arakan, an NPA infested town near the border of North Cotabato and
Davao City.
Lt. Nasrullah Sema, speaking for the 57th IB, said government forces
recovered two long firearms, blasting caps for land mines and other explosive
paraphernalia.
Sema said the firefight erupted between soldiers on patrol and NPA Front 53
in Sitio Anuling, Barangay Badiangon, Arakan, North Cotabato.
Asto said while the Army is religiously observing the SOMO (Suspension of
Military Offensives), soldiers were under instruction to remain on guard to
ensure lawless elements could not take advantage of the government's peace
gesture.
In Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, government forces and NPAs also clashed
Saturday, leaving a militiaman and two rebels killed in the process.
Rene Pernal, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, was
slain during the early morning clash.
Elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt. Angelo Peralta, were
conducting foot patrol in Sitio Kumilat, Barangay NED, Lake Sebu, South
Cotabato, when the rebels, numbering about 40, opened fire on them that
triggered a running gunbattle.
The armed men were led by Commanders Udtog and Mod, both residents of
Palembang, Sultan Kudarat.
Retreating guerillas dragged with them their slain comrades, the Army said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=487011
The association of NPA rebels with the encounter mentioned in the last paragraph of the article above may be in error. Reports in MindaNews and in the Sun Star-Davao say that members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were the onces actually involved in the encounter with government forces.
ReplyDelete