AFP labels NPA ambush of 4MBLT convoy in northern Palawan as 'retaliation'

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 27): AFP labels NPA ambush of 4MBLT convoy in northern Palawan as 'retaliation'

The ambush Monday morning on the commanding officer and his two-vehicle convoy in northern Palawan might be “a retaliation” of the insurgent group New People's Army (NPA), a high ranking officer of the Palawan-based Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

"We expected retaliation since the recovery of their large arms cache and the eventual surrendering of four NPA rebels last July," Lt. Gen. Rustico O. Guerrero, chief of the Western Command (Wescom), told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Guerrero, who was in a separate travel mission in southern Palawan when the ambush was staged, said that the AFP units have been very active in the surrender effort "because that is the non-violent way and a better and peaceful option for the rebels who have to live and engage in violent activities."

Suspected members of the NPA in northern Palawan ambushed by detonating a mine bomb as Col. Vince Blanco, commanding officer of the 4th Marine Battalion Landing Team (4MBLT), and his two-vehicle convoy, an M35 6x6 military truck and an elf truck were passing by Sitio Ibangley, Barangay Alimanguan in Taytay around 10 a.m. Monday.

Blanco was unhurt but a Marine soldier who was with him was slightly injured. A gun fight ensued, and pursuit operations by reinforcement troops from nearby MBLT4 headquarters arrived.

Guerrero said he immediately ordered a pursuit operation against the perpetrators.

"The group was coming from the MBLT4 headquarters going to the marine detachment in Ibangley, when they were ambushed. As we are speaking, our troops are engaged in gunfight and are pursuing the perpetrators," Guerrero told PNA.

Ibangley over the years has gained the reputation as an ambush area along the northern national highway.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=558940