Manhunt on vs. NPAs after clash with soldiers in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 24): Manhunt on vs. NPAs after clash with soldiers in North Cotabato

MAKILALA, North Cotabato -- The Army's 57th Infantry Battalion has continued its clearing operations and intelligence gathering activities following a fierce firefight here Wednesday that left a soldier and two communist guerillas killed. Colonel Noel dela Cruz, 57th IB chief, also blamed the New People's Army (NPA) for continuously harassing soldiers in remote villages because they could not collect revolutionary taxes from hapless civilians.

The two-hour encounter took place around 2 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay Cabilao here that left a soldier killed and two others wounded. Dela Cruz said at least two guerillas were believed killed as civilians informed the military that two men were carried by retreating guerillas towards the slope of Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak. Dela Cruz did not identify the slain infantryman and the wounded soldiers pending notification of their families.

Citing intelligence information, Dela Cruz said the rebels, belonging to Front 72, had been mulcting civilians during harvest season, an act the civilians have been seeking relief from the Army. He said the rebels have also intensified its harassment against multi-national firm like the Stanfilco for its failure to provide revolutionary tax.

De la Cruz said the "extortionists" are operating in large number so the Army had to use 105 howitzers to drive the guerillas away from civilian populace in Makilala villages which are earlier influenced by the NPA but later liberated by the military through peace and development initiatives. Dela Cruz said the peace and development activities will continue in the remote villages here and nearby towns despite continued attacks and harassment by communist guerillas.

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