Army units hunting down rebels who detonated IEDs in Masbate

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 15): Army units hunting down rebels who detonated IEDs in Masbate
 

Southern Luzon Command units are now tracking down the rebel band who detonated four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in different areas in Masbate Island on Tuesday.

903rd Infantry Brigade head Col. Fernando R. Trinidad said the first explosion was reported at 4:00 a.m. in Barangay Miaga, Uson town; the second at 5:00 a.m. in Barangay Tunga, Esperanza town; the third at 7:10 a.m in Loving Forest Memorial Garden alongside of National Highway in Barangay Malinta, Masbate City; and the fourth at 7:15 a.m. at the National Highway in Purok 5, Barangay Tabuc, Mobo.

No one was reportedly hurt caused by the four explosions.

“These explosions are propaganda tactics to sow fear to the people,” Trinidad said.

He assured that Army units in the island province are doing their best to ensure the safety of the Masbateños against the rebels' abuses and terror acts.

As this develops, Southern Luzon Command head Lt. Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya said that the explosions are in connection to the New People's Army (NPA) anniversary on March 29.

“The NPA is a diminishing group in Southern Luzon, as such; they resort to terror acts like these IED explosions to project that they are still strong,” he added.

At present, there are 36 NPAs being hunted by military units in Masbate.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=866749