From the Daily Guardian (Dec 12): Soldiers foil rebels’ pre-anniversary plan
WHATEVER plan the New People’s Army (NPA) hatched in the central part of Iloilo province went kaput following an encounter early morning of Dec. 9, 2018 in Janiuay, Iloilo.
Reports from the military indicated that troops from the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion encountered more than 20 suspected NPA members of the Central Front Committee’s SPP Baloy around 6 a.m. Sunday at Barangay Canauilihan.
A river separates Canauilihan from the nearby village of Trangka, Maasin.
The encounter site is a kilometer away from Antique province.
Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot Jr., 61st IB commander, said the rebels initially planned to make the place their temporary harboring area while they are preparing for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)’s 50th founding anniversary on Dec 26.
Magbalot said the move was part of their operation.
The site, which is around 20 kilometers from the town proper, can be reached on foot for the most part of the travel.
“It took 4 days for our troops to reach the area,” he said.
As of late Sunday afternoon, soldiers are still scouting the area and already recovered two M16 Armalite rifles, four improvised explosive device (IEDs), seven backpacks with personal belongings, an NPA flag, a laptop, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Magbalot said they are still gathering information where the supposed IEDs will be used.
“But we believe they have planned harassment activities for the CPP’s anniversary on Dec. 26,” he said.
The CPP has declared a temporary unilateral ceasefire for the Holidays and for their 50th year anniversary.
The CPP announced that its armed wing, the NPA, and people’s militias were ordered to cease and desist from undertaking offensive military operations starting 12:01 a.m. of December 24 until 11:59 p.m. of December 26, 2018, and from 12:01 a.m. of December 31 until 11:59 p.m. of January 1, 2019.
But Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier said it is not likely to reciprocate CPP’s declaration.
https://thedailyguardian.net/local-news/soldiers-foil-rebels-pre-anniversary-plan/
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