3 dead, 8 wounded in NPA ambush in Davao

From the Manila Times (Mar 11): 3 dead, 8 wounded in NPA ambush in Davao

New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed at least three government soldiers and wounded eight more in an ambush in Davao City in the southern Philippines, a spokesman for the communist group said on Sunday.

Simon Santiago said that the rebel forces attacked soldiers and policemen, including militiamen, in the village of Carmen in Baguio district during an offensive operation over the weekend. He said that rebels seized automatic weapons and ammunitions from government forces during the assault.

“The NPA ambush was to give justice to the victims of the 84th Infantry Battalion its use of lumad vigilantes in its current intensive military operations,” he said.

He said that the military offensive, which started on February 27, affected civilians in the villages of Cadalian, Tambobong, Tawan-tawan, Carmen and Tamayong.

“It is futile and illusory for the 10th Infantry Division to conjure an image of Davao City peasant villages bereft of the NPA and revolutionary forces. The recent NPA ambush and the punishment of civilian military spy in Baguio district demonstrate the pursuit of revolutionary justice consistently upheld by the people’s army,” Santiago said, referring to the killing by rebels of Paulino Landim Jr. on March 2.

The Maoist rebels accused Landim, son of a tribal chieftain, as behind the killing of a militant last month in a raid conducted by military and police in Davao City.

Fresh fighting

In Samar, fighting erupted anew between government forces and the rebels, leaving an undermined number of rebels dead and scores of other others injured, according to a military spokesman.

Capt. Gene Orense, spokesman of Eighth Infantry Division, said on Monday that the series of armed encounters happened in the provinces of Samar and Northern Samar, all known hotbeds of insurgency.

The first incident, he said, took place in the boundary of Barangay Calondan, San Joge and Barangay Barayong, Motiong, Western Samar province between troops of Alpha Co., 43rd Infantry Battalion and undetermined number of rebels.

Similarly, troops of the 20th Infantry Battalion and Pinarican Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit’s Active Auxilliary also engaged some 15 Maoist rebels in a 15-minute firefight at Barangay Kalilingan, San Jose in Northern Samar.

Recovered from the encounter sites were assorted ammunitions for AK-47, M1 Garand and M16 rifles.

According to Orense, there were no reported casualties on the government side but an undetermined number of casualties and injuries on the side of the enemy.

Lt. Col. Noel Vestuir, 20th Infantry Battalion commanding officer, said that the encounters were the result of information relayed by residents to the military.

“These NPA rebels have been harassing the local populace, forcing to give in to their so-called revolutionary taxes in exchange for securing their communities,” Vestuir added.

Prior to the said encounters, troops of 34th IB and 81st Reconnaissance Co., also overran a temporary NPA camp after a 30-minute firefight against 25 NPA rebels in Palapag Complex, Northern Samar on March 4.

The encounter resulted in the seizure of the camp and recovery two M16 rifles, two landmines, one rifle grenade, magazines/ammunitions for M16 rifles and subversive documents.

Maj. Gen Gerardo Layug, commander of the Eighth Infantry Division, assured the public that they will continue to pursue peace but will act accordingly against all armed threats perpetrated by the militants or any armed groups.

“We will continue securing the communities against rebel influence and other armed threats, and we will be in close coordination with the local leaders and other stakeholders in ensuring peace in every community in the region,” Layug added.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/43268-3-dead-8-wounded-in-npa-ambush-in-davao