NPA fighters in formation
A squad leader of the New People's Army (NPA) died and six civilians and a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were wounded after a two-day series of tactical offensives launched by the rebels in various parts of the Bicol Region.
Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) chief, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya disclosed on Tuesday that the NPA attacks were apparently in retaliation for the death seven rebels in recent encounters: three killed in an encounter in Mauban, Quezon on July 8, one in Atimonan, Quezon on July 12 and 3 in Irosin, Sorsogon on July 16.
In these encounters, the military also lost two soldiers.
In Monday's clash, at around 10 a.m. in Barangay Sta. Elena, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Col. Amador Tabuga, commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade, said NPA squad leader Romeo Gresola was killed while CAFGU member Hubert Pagao was wounded.
Tabuga said a squad of NPA rebels positioned themselves about 300 meters away and opened fire towards the CAFGI detachment as they advanced.
"Initially, our men in the detachment held their position, then the CAFGU squad leader led his men in a counterattack and successfully engaged the NPAs, which resulted in one rebel dead," Tabuga said.
He said Pagao suffered shrapnel wounds from a rifle grenade explosion fired by the rebels.
Just more than two hours before this, suspected NPA rebels fired an M203 grenade against a team of soldiers taking rest at a civilian house, wounding at least six civilians at around 7:48 a.m. in Barangay Anislag, Daraga, Albay.
The wounded civilians were Lendie Asaytono, 35; Eugene Asaytono, 27; Christian Bulgar, 18; Raquel Yato, 17; Jomar Balde, 16; and James Alien, 5.
Lt. Gen. Visaya said the NPA also wanted to avenge the arrest of Eddie A. Astaño, a suspected ranking NPA leader, on July 19, 2015 in Barangay Ilawod, Daraga, Albay.
"The arrest of Astaño is another big blow on them," Visaya said.
He said the NPA "want to project that they are still a force to reckon with in the region" to cover-up the declining number of their fighters.
The military in the region had recently declared as insurgency-free the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Rizal.
"At least eight NPA harassment actions were recorded at seven Army detachments and one police station in Sorsogon Province from 4:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. of July 20," 903rd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Cesar Idio said.
In Albay, two NPA attacks were recorded at around 11:55 p.m. Sunday and around 1:20 a.m. Monday.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/114588/7-hurt-rebel-leader-killed-in-npa-bicol-tactical-offensives
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