Blasts hit Masbate cell sites; NPA eyed

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Mar 16): Blasts hit Masbate cell sites; NPA eyed

ELEVEN explosions which targeted mostly cell sites of Globe Telecoms and suspected to have been perpetrated by communist rebels rocked different parts of Masbate on Tuesday morning.

The military, who denounced the blasts as “propaganda tactics” to scare the residents, said two policemen were injured in the incidents.

“These explosions are propaganda tactics to sow fear to the people,” said Col. Fernando Trinidad, 903rd Infantry Brigade Commander.

The New People’s Army is suspected to be behind the explosions in eight different towns in Masbate, which happened on Tuesday morning.

Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya said the incidents were possibly connected to the NPA’s upcoming anniversary on March 29.

Resorting to terror acts

“The NPA is a diminishing group in Southern Luzon and they resort to terror acts like these explosions to project that they are still strong,” Visaya said, adding that there are only 36 rebels in Masbate.

Two policemen were wounded in one of the blasts in Barangay Burgos, Batuan town. They were identified as SPO1 Amado Albiola and Senior Insp. Aldrin Rosales.

The first four blasts happened 30 minutes apart beginning at 4:30 a.m. at a Globe Telecoms cell site in Barangay Miaga, Uson town.

The second explosion jolted Barangay Tunga, Esperanza town, around 5 a.m., followed by another blast in Barangay Poblacion, Claveria town, around 5:36 a.m.

At 6 a.m., another explosion rocked another Globe cell site in Barangay Crossing, also in Uson town, followed by an 8:30 a.m. blast at another Globe cell site in Barangay Panisihan in the same town.

Minutes later at 8:50 a.m., an improvised explosive device went off along the provincial road of Barangay Burgos in Batuan town, wounding two policemen, Rosales and Abiola, who were on their way to Barangay Lagundi.

Both policemen were rushed to the Masbate Provincial Hospital for treatment.

Another blast occurred around 10:30 a.m. in Barangay Buenasuerte in Uson town, followed by an explosion 10 minutes later in Barangay Ilaya, Balud town.

The last explosion was around 10:45 a.m. at the boundary of San Jacinto and San Fernando towns.

Trinidad assured that Philippine Army units assigned in Masbate have stepped up its efforts to ensure the safety of residents against communist rebels.
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