NPA rebels claim attacks on military forces in Southern Philippines

From the Mindanao Examiner (Feb 21): NPA rebels claim attacks on military forces in Southern Philippines

Communist rebels took responsibility for attacking government troops in the southern Philippine provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato that killed at least 8 infantrymen.

Isabel Fermiza, a spokesperson for the New People’s Army, said the rebel offensive was launched by the Guerrilla Front 51 Operations Command under the Mount Apo Sub-regional Command, in Digos and Makilala towns and targeted the 39th Infantry Battalion under the 10th Infantry Division.

Fermiza said rebel forces bombed an army detachment in the village of Old Bulatukan in Makilala town and ambushed troop in Goma village in Digos City.

“Eight fascist troops were killed while nine were wounded from the command detonated explosives and actual combat. The NPA confiscated one M14 rifle, several backpacks and medical kits. One Red fighter, Ka Jiboy, was martyred and two other NPA guerrillas were wounded,” Fermiza said.

“The offensives were aimed at the 39th Infantry Battalion’s forward deployment in Makilala and Tulunan towns in North Cotabato, expanding its former territorial jurisdiction which covered all towns of Davao del Sur. Arrogant and fascist to the core, the 39th Infantry Battalion swaggers as the 10th Infantry Division’s biggest battalion, in a desperate move to widen its area of abuses.”

Fermiza said government soldiers were also behind the detention of indigenous villagers, who were just hunting in the forest of Makilala town, and interrogated them for many hours until local officials pleaded for the safe release of the innocent civilians - Elorde Panggilan, Denis Panggilan, Dexter Panggilan, Ariel Panggilan, Randy Emban, Lodring Emban, Ryan Baclao, Jonel de Guzman, Wowie de Guzman, Henry Ando and Roel de Vera.

“The incident was a prelude to more abusive activities by the 39th Infantry Battalion Special Operations Teams in Makilala, ranging from psychological warfare, forced surrender, and encampment in civilian structures in all of the town’s barangays (villages). In one instance, soldiers, in a display of cowardice and desperation, took pictures of attendance sheets of a village meeting to identify leaders and members of peasant organizations,” Fermiza said.

The 10th Infantry Division has earlier declared Davao del Sur as free from rebel influence. There was no immediate reaction from army officials about Fermiza’s allegations.

The NPA has been fighting for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20140221100749