THE military said on Saturday that it repelled an attack by New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas on its troops in Camarines Sur, adding it was the second recorded violation by the rebels of the existing Christmas cease-fire.
The attack was reported by the Armed Force as it prepared to resume its normal military operations against the rebels upon the expiration of the cease-fire at 12 midnight on Sunday. The Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command reported that at around 4 p.m. on New Year’s Day the rebels attacked an Army team in Barangay Scout Fuentebella, Goa, Camarines Sur.
The attack happened while government forces were observing the unilateral suspension of offensive military operations (Somo) nationwide declared by the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines’s unilateral declaration of cease-fire, which both started on December 23 at 12:01 a.m. and will expire at 12 midnight on January 3.
Lt. Col. Zacarias Batalla, 83rd Infantry Battalion commander, eight soldiers and six Citizens Armed Forces Geographic Unit Active Auxilliaries were fired upon by some 10 rebels, triggering a 20-minute firefight. “No one is hurt among our troops, however, on the side of the rebels, bloodstains were seen scattered on their position,” Batalla said.
He also said that an M-14 rifle and an AK-50 rifle along with 12 backpacks with two hand grenades, bandoleers with 18 assorted magazines and ammunition were recovered at the encounter site.
“It‘s a New Year’s visit to assure the barangay folk of our presence, that we are not remiss in our duty to provide them security when the attack happened leaving the soldiers no choice but to fire back,” Col. Claudio Yucot, commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, said.
Yucot said the attack “seemed deliberate” as landmines were reportedly discovered laid along the soldiers’ path going to the barangay, about two kilometers from their patrol base.
Yucot said he did not order pursuit operations in strict observance of President Aquino’s declaration of Somo.
On December 23, the start of the truce, the rebels also reportedly fired at soldiers in Surigao del Sur.
Col. Isidro Purisima, commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, said the rebels under Brando Juagpao alias Commander Rodel harassed members of the Second Special Forces Battalion at the outskirt of barangay Bitaugan, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Purisima said troops were stationed in the said area to assist officials of the local government of San Miguel in facilitating the delivery of development programs and services in the community.
An senior officer at the Armed Forces General Headquarters in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City said the rebel attacks prove that the CPP no longer controls the NPA guerrillas in the countryside.
The official added: “If this is the case, the government should terminate peace negotiations with the CPP-National Democratic Front and instead start negotiations with local NPA guerrilla units."
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