Young rebel abandons NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 31): Young rebel abandons NPA

A 14-year-old girl abandoned the New People's Army (NPA) two months after she was recruited by the revolutionary group in January.

The Davao Oriental Provincial Information Office revealed on Friday that Shena (not her real name) of So Casunugan, Barangay Buso, Mati City, Davao Oriental sought the help of a barangay councilman of Buso to facilitate her surrender to the Army on Thursday.

Shena is a grade six student of Serafin Vizconde Elem School in Buso when she was recruited by an alias Kara in January.

Shena reportedly became a Medic of Squad 3, Baking Platoon of Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 7.

Shena's surrender followed an encounter between government troops and NPA rebels that left a member of the NPA dead and two soldiers wounded.

The latest armed encounter between the communist insurgents and Army troops happened noon Thursday in Barangay Tagbinonga, Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Buso and Tagbinonga are adjacent barangays.

Capt. Andrew Linao, of the Civil Military Operations (CMO) of the 701st Infantry Brigade, reported that the troops of 28th Infantry Battalion and 66th Infantry Battalion encountered the NPA's Pulang Bagani Command 6 in Tagbinonga while the soldiers were conducting patrol operations.

Linao said the body of the dead rebel was recovered.

The two wounded soldiers were immediately given medical attention, he added.

Linao said the Army pounded the NPA position with 105 artillery to support the ground troops.

Linao said the Philippine Army will continue the military operation against lawless groups that undermine the people's democratic way of life and institutions.

"These terrorists will not be tolerated and will face the full force of the government to maintain law and order," he said.

Since last week, the NPA has stepped up offensive operations against the communist rebels.

The 10th Infantry Battalion earlier reported that the series of clashes between government troops and the NPA in Davao City and Compostela Valley province, from March 25 to 27, left an NPA member, a soldier and a militiaman killed.

Captain Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry Division information officer, said government troops also recovered a rifle and several war materials left behind by the fleeing rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=976668