Military steps up its offensive vs communist rebels

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 28): Military steps up its offensive vs communist rebels

The military has stepped up its offensive against the communist rebels amid the botched peace negotiations that led to President Duterte and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison lambasting each other.

In Abra, soldiers clashed with 15 suspected communist rebels whom they have been hunting down after they catch up with the latter in Barangay Tabacda in Tubo town.

Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, spokesperson of the Northern Luzon Command, said troopers were immediately sent in the remote area of Tubo town after they were alerted of the presence of armed men in the area on Wednesday.

“There were casualties on the enemy side as reported by our men. This report is now being verified. There are no casualties on our side,” Nato said.

Earlier, elements of the 81st Infantry Battalion recovered an abandoned camp near the tri-boundary of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur.

“The abandoned camp is being used as their clinic, the place can accommodate 30 people,” Nato said.

In Quezon, a communist rebel was killed in a firefight with elements of the 85th Infantry Battalion in San Andres Bundok in Atimonan town at around 5 p.m. on Friday.

Capt. Patrick Retumban spokesperson of the 2nd Infantry Division, said soldiers were immediately sent in the area after receiving reports of NPA sighting.

“They were extorting rice and money from the residents. They also ordered all the street lights to be turned off,” Retumban said.

The incident forced some of the residents to flee, some of them sought the assistance of the police and the military that eventually led to the operation.

The 4,000-strong NPA has been waging more than four decades of armed struggle against the government. Attempts of various administrations for a peace agreement always hit a snag.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/28/military-steps-up-its-offensive-vs-communist-rebels/