More Marines deployed in Sultan Kudarat town vs. NPAs

From the Philippine News Agency (May 15): More Marines deployed in Sultan Kudarat town vs. NPAs

The military here has deployed more Marine troopers in the hinterlands of a coastal town in Sultan Kudarat province following a brief firefight with the communist New People's Army (NPA) over the weekend, an Army official said Monday.

"Pursuit and blockade (operations) are being conducted by our ground troops to thwart the extrication of the rebels,” Major Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division based here, said.

Dela Vega also heads the Joint Task Force Central, the military-led task force that pursues lawless elements, Moro bandits and communist rebels in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and parts of Lanao del Sur.

“Aerial and land assets are being utilized to track down the fleeing armed rebels in the immediate vicinity of the encounter site," Dela Vega said.

“We are making sure that the fighting will not spill over to nearby areas," he told reporters.

Operating troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 (MBLT2), under the JTF Central, clashed with some 100 communist rebels in the mountains of Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig on Saturday morning.

Marine troopers were sent to the village to verify reports on the presence of NPA mulcting farmers. As the troops arrived, they were fired upon by the communist rebels, triggering a brief firefight.

Although outnumbered, the platoon-size Marines stood their ground. After about 30 minutes, the rebels fled deep into the forest of Sitio Lomolon, Barangay Hinalaan.

The government forces were also backed by artillery fire from the MBLT-2 base, forcing the rebels to escape.

Dela Vega could not say if the rebels suffered casualties in the bombardment. There was no casualty on the government side.

It was in the same village that seven Marines were hurt after they were ambushed by communist rebels in February this year.

After the clearing operations, government forces recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle and four sets of Improvised Explosive Devices.

Lt. General Carlito Galvez Jr, commander of Western Mindanao Command, lauded JTF Central for the successful operation.

“It is obvious that these rebels are no longer fighting for any ideology but are just engaged in plain banditry," Galvez said in a statement.

"They have no place in our communities and must be fought together by all peace loving individuals," he added.

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, 6th ID spokesperson, said clearing operations are still ongoing in the village of Hinalaan to ensure that no explosives have been left behind by the communist rebels.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/987716