Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri (far left) inspect war materiel and documents seized from NPA rebels in recent clashes in Region 12. Photograph by Edwin Espejo
A daily average of one armed encounter between government forces and communist-led New People's Army (NPA) rebels in eastern Mindanao has been noted over the last couple of months, Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Balabad said on Friday.
Balabad added that two daily armed encounters were reported during the last 10 days in the Caraga Region, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao Region and the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani in Region 12.
The latest was the fierce gun battle involving elements of the Philippine Army' 27th Infantry Battalion and some 40 NPA rebels in Barangay Nomoh in Maasim, Sarangani Wednesday morning.
Three NPA rebels died, and 11 high-power firearms were recovered by government forces.
It was the second clash between the same platoon of the Philippine Army led by Lt. Bryan Bacaling, who also engaged NPA rebels in a running gun battle Tuesday.
The slain NPA rebels were identified as Rendel Ryan Cagula, reportedly a resident of Bago Gallera in Davao City; Johnny Camag of Magsaysay in Davao del Sur; and Fredi Ayog of Islome in Maasim.
Rebel stronghold
Lt. Gen. Balabad said more than 50 percent of the estimated 4,600 NPAs throughout the country are in Mindanao, with the eastern part of the island, particularly in Caraga and Davao regions, hosting the most number of NPA guerrilla fronts and armed regulars.
Balabad said there are more than 1,990 fully armed rebels in Eastern Mindanao alone, as of the third quarter of this year, operating in 33 NPA guerrilla fronts.
Jorge Madlos, spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao, claimed they have established 49 guerrilla fronts in Mindanao.
Balabad remarked, however, that the AFP has emerged victorious in most of the armed clashes between government forces and the NPA rebels.
Balabad noted that de-escalation of fighting between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has enabled the AFP to reposition forces to focus on dismantling the guerilla fronts of the NPA.
Balabad has two Army divisions under his command: The 10th Infantry Division (ID) stationed in Mawab, Compostela and the 4th ID in Cagayan de Oro City.
Military citation
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, Philippine Army Commanding Officer, conferred the military merit medal on the members of the platoon under Lt. Bacaling for their campaign in neutralizing the NPA in their area of operation.
Iriberri, who hails from Surigao City where the NPAs in Mindanao area are at their strongest, said proper training, community support and superior intelligence were keys to the recent success of the AFP against the communist rebels.
Cash rewards were also given to the 1002nd Brigade and the 27th and 73rd infantry battalions for recovering a total of 21 high powered firearms in less than a month of operations against the rebels.
Iriberri said the objective is to reduce the NPAs into irrelevance by 2016.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/98752/army-admits-spike-in-afp-npa-clashes-in-mindanao
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