1 NPA killed, 4 others hurt in N. Cotabato clashes

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 16): 1 NPA killed, 4 others hurt in N. Cotabato clashes

A New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed and four of his companions were hurt in two successive clashes between communist insurgents and the military in the hinterland district of Makilala town in North Cotabato.

The first clash occurred after soldiers responded to calls by civilians about the alleged extortion activities by the rebels in the area.

1Lt. Nasrullah Sema, speaking for the 57th Infantry Battalion, said the rebels have been mulcting banana farmers in the village of Luayon.

The soldiers were fired upon by about 40 armed NPA guerillas as they approached the village which triggered a 30-minute firefight. No casualty was reported on government side.

As clearing operations were ongoing, soldiers put up blocking force outside the village and clashed with the fleeing rebels anew leaving four guerillas wounded, Sema said.

Sema said the rebels belonged to NPA Guerilla Front 72 with camps in the tri-boundaries of Makilala, Magpet and Arakan, all in North Cotabato.

"We pity the banana plantation owners and workers who have been the subject of atrocities by communist rebels," Col. Dickson Hermoso, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said.

Hermoso lauded the civilians for alerting the military about the presence of communist rebels in their communities even as he urged civilians to continue cooperating with the government.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=507645