NPA now operates in Zambo provinces

From Malaya Business Insight (May 4): NPA now operates in Zambo provinces

NEW People’s Army rebels have been seen in the Zamboanga provinces, prompting the military to form a battalion to address the apparent expansion of the area of operations of the communist rebels.

“We’ve been receiving reports of rebel activities (in the Zamboanga Peninsula). This could be part of their expansion efforts. That is one of the considerations (in the deployment),” said Maj. Ronald Suscano, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division based in Zamboanga del Sur.

Suscano said the military started receiving reports of NPA presence in the Zamboanga Peninsula in November or December last year.

The NPA operates mainly in the Davao and Caraga regions. The Davao region covers Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental. Caraga covers Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

Suscano said the newly-formed 97th Infantry Battalion, composed of 400 soldiers and headed by Lt. Col. Rufino de Leon, will be deployed to Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay after it completes a 45-day training which started yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, the 1st ID commander, said the training “is designed to enhance the competence and individual skills of every soldier and also develop their teamwork as a unit.” It is also expected to boost the soldiers’ confidence.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. In November last year, President Duterte terminated peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front of the Philippines because of continued attacks by the NPA.

Last month, Duterte directed government negotiators to work for the resumption of the talks but military operations against the NPA continue.

In Laguna, meanwhile, a member of the NPA’s hit squad, the Sparu, was killed by policemen in a shootout at a checkpoint in Barangay Dambo in Pangil town.

Four other Sparu members were arrested.
Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Southern Tagalog regional police chief, identified the slain rebel as Ismael Criste aka Maeng, who is also a member of the NPA’s Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri (RBKU) under the Cesar Batrallo Command.
Police said the RBKU is the NPA unit tasked to collect revolutionary taxes.

Eleazar said policemen placed Criste under surveillance after they received reports that a group of communist rebels were out to assassinate policemen from the towns of Sta. Cruz and Alaminos.

Eleazar ordered his men to intensify checkpoint operations.

Criste’s group was aboard a red vehicle which ignored a checkpoint.

Arrested were Luis Alano Jr., 44; Shirley Martinez, 47; Felicidad Villegas, 60; and Cristy Lacuarta, 30.

Recovered from the rebels were assorted firearms and several ammunition, two hand grenades, personal stuff, and cash.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/npa-now-operates-zambo-provinces