MEMBERS of the communist New People’s Army attacked the location being surveyed for a 1,200 megawatt, coal-fired Meralco power plant in Quezon province, resulting in the death of a soldier belonging to the Philippine Army detachment tasked to secure the area.
An unknown number of NPA troops fired upon soldiers of the
85th Infantry Battalion at around 5 p.m. last Sunday in the survey location for
the Atimonan One Powerplant in Villa Alibaba village in Quezon, the Philippine
Army said.
The 130-hectare land area is the future site of the Manila Electric Company’s $2 billion power plant.
The firefight lasted for about an hour and 50 minutes, killing Corporal Michael S. Lubian, Col. Rhoderick M. Parayno, Brigade Commander of the 201st said in a phone interview on Monday.
The 130-hectare land area is the future site of the Manila Electric Company’s $2 billion power plant.
The firefight lasted for about an hour and 50 minutes, killing Corporal Michael S. Lubian, Col. Rhoderick M. Parayno, Brigade Commander of the 201st said in a phone interview on Monday.
The rebels wanted to “recover the area by fire,” meaning by tactical offensive
so they can easily get the support of the masses. After they get that, what
comes next would be extortion activities. By that time, the power plant would
be possibly finished and then they will extort there,” Mr. Parayno said.
Mr. Parayno said that there are three NPA groups operating in the area including two guerilla units and one provincial operations command.
Mr. Parayno said that there are three NPA groups operating in the area including two guerilla units and one provincial operations command.
“In Quezon there is Guerilla Unit 2 with a total of 28 troops with 34 firearms.
There is also a unit from Laguna, the Guerilla Unit 1. There are six of them
with six firearms. The one from Bicol, the Armando Catapia Command, has 23
troops with 23 firearms,” he said.
The Army said it is currently conducting pursuit operations to track down the NPA troops responsible for the attack.
The 85th Infantry Battalion is under the 201st Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
The Army said it is currently conducting pursuit operations to track down the NPA troops responsible for the attack.
The 85th Infantry Battalion is under the 201st Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=attack-on-site-eyed-for-meralco-power-plant-results-in-soldier&8217s-death&id=111561
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