Gov't troops foil suspected NPA firearms, ammo delivery

From the Philippine Information Agency  (Nov 5): Gov't troops foil suspected NPA firearms, ammo delivery

Troops of the  Philippine  Army and  Philippine National  Police  on Sunday  apprehended   two persons  suspected of  delivering   high-powered   firearms   to New People’s  Army (NPA) combatants  in  T’boli town, this  province.

PSupt  Jemuel Siason, acting T’boli  police chief,  said  recovered from the  suspects  were  4 AK-47 rifles, 15 long  magazines  loaded  with ammunitions,  326 live ammunitions  for AK-47        and 106 ammunitions  for M-14  rifles

Also  in their  possession  were  subversive  documents, including  an  assault  plan of a  target  area where a  police detachment is located.

Siason  pointed  out, the  rebels  could possibly have planned  to attack  an armory.

“Based  on  intelligence  reports  the suspects, although  living in  Tulunan, North Cotabato and  Norala, this  province, originated  from  Compostela Valley area,”  Siason  said.

He alleged,  still based on  gathered intelligence  information, the  two were  members of the  NPA’s Regionwide Area  Committee.

In a separate  report,  Capt. William Rodriguez, spokesperson of the  1002nd  Brigade,  recounted that  elements of the 27th Infantry Battalion,  4th Maneuver Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB)  and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)-12  acted  upon an intelligence  report  that  said  NPA operatives  will  be   transporting  firearms from Tulunan, North Cotabato.

An unnamed  reliable source, he said, indicated that  a red Mitsubishi Lancer with plate number PGF 172   will be  used for this  purpose.

The  combined forces conducted a joint checkpoint operations at 2:00 at vicinity Barangay Centrala, Surallah, South Cotabato.

At around  4:00  p.m. the subject vehicle passed by aforesaid checkpoint but did not stop despite being flagged-down by the law enforcers.

Government troops, onboard military and PNP vehicles, immediately conducted pursuit operations and successfully apprehended said vehicle at Barangay Sinolon, T’boli, South Cotabato after a 5-minute car chase,  Rodriguez said.

On  March  20, this  year,  at least  15 NPA combatants  attacked  a  community police assistance  center (COMPAC)  sa  Barangay Sinolon. Two  civilians  and  a  police  officer  were  wounded in the incident.
Lieutenant Col. Shalimar Imperial, commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said that the remaining NPAs in T’boli and Lake Sebu, mostly coming from other provinces, are already desperate of their failed recruitment effort in the area.

He said that the NPAs already resorted to using the lure to handle high-powered weapons to recruit.

He added the  rebel  group is now  focusing on the members of the indigenous community in far-flung areas, particularly the out-of-school youth.

Imperial urged the NPAs to return to the folds of the law and accept the amnesty program of the government so that genuine peace and stability will finally reign in these far-flung areas.

On  September 16,   19 NPA surrenderees received initial cash assistance amounting to P10,000 each from the Provincial Government of South Cotabato and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Livelihood assistance worth P50,000  each was already handed down by OPAPP to the provincial LGU and will soon be released to the former rebels once they have already undergone the required livelihood training this month of November to prepare them to be integrated to the mainstream of society.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1611383639075