Sultan Kudarat town asks Marine deployment in mountain villages

From the Philippine News Agency (May 18): Sultan Kudarat town asks Marine deployment in mountain villages

Residents in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat asked Thursday the Philippine Marines to put up military detachments in mountain villages to prevent infiltration by communist rebels.

Kalamansig Mayor Ronan Garcia said the peoples' request has been forwarded to the 1st Marine Brigade based in the town.

Twice this month, the 6th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-6) had foiled attempts by communist New People's Army (NPA) to infiltrate populated upland communities in Kalamansig from the towns of Sen. Ninoy Aquino and Palimbang, both in Sultan Kudarat.

The NPA rebels initially massed up in Barangay Hinalaan in Kalamansig and ambushed a Marine unit sent to verify their presence.

Three days later, Marine troopers clashed with another band of rebels in Barangay Sangay, Kalamansig that led to the recovery of improvised bombs and two rifles.

Brig. Gen. Melquiades Ordiales, commander of 1st Marine Brigade, said the people's request is being considered, adding that the Marines "never reject requests from the people as far as security is concerned."

Garcia said the hinterland villages have been peaceful until the communist rebels started to infiltrate the communities and tried to convince villagers to join their ranks.

“We don’t need you here,” he said of the rebels.

On Wednesday morning, suspected NPAs, in an attempt to get back at the Marines, detonated a roadside bomb in Barangay Bolebak in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

The powerful bomb was set off through a mobile phone while a convoy of Marines was passing by. Nobody was hurt.

“It was intended for the Marines,” Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police director, said.

“The rebels have suffered casualties during clashes with the Marines so they want to retaliate,” Supiter added.

Kading Aguilar, a resident of Barangay Hinalaan, said their village was peaceful and infrastructure development had been coming before the rebels started coming in starting last year.

Since then, the rebels have been allegedly extorting farmers and contractors of road projects, threatening to burn their heavy equipment if they won't oblige, he said.

Aguilar said the rebels wanted to establish training camps in the mountain villages between Palimbang and Kalamansig.

“Marines should be stationed there,” he suggested.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/988832