11 soldiers hurt in clash with NPA in ComVal town

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 27): 11 soldiers hurt in clash with NPA in ComVal town

Eleven personnel of the Army's 10th Infantry Division (10ID) were hurt when they encountered an undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Mt. Diwata, Monkayo town, Compostela Valley province on Wednesday.

A report released by the 10ID on Thursday said troopers belonging to the division's Recon Company and 25th Infantry Brigade conducted  "focused military operation" after receiving information indicating NPA presence in the area.

A firefight that lasted several minutes erupted, with the NPA believed to have suffered an undetermined number of casualties based on the traces of bloodstain in the encounter site.

The 10ID said the 11 wounded soldiers are now in stable condition.

According to several locals, the NPA combatants were harassing community members to participate in the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-- the NPA's mother organization.

The rebels, belonging to the Guerilla Front 20, were also extorting money from community members, the residents alleged.

When they couldn't get enough locals to participate in the CPP's December 26 anniversary event, the NPA allegedly started planting landmines on the road, prompting residents to report them to the military.

GF 20, which operates in the northern part of Compostela Valley province, was recently declared by the military as being on the verge of disbanding following the series of surrenders by its members and underground mass supporters.

The Compostela Valley encounter is the second incident involving the NPA in Region 11 during the week.

On Christmas Day, troops from Army's 39th Infantry Battalion (39IB) clashed with NPA rebels in Sibulan, Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur while conducting security operation.

10ID said it has launched pursuit operations to prevent the rebels from launching more attacks.

Brig. General Jose Faustino, 10ID commander, condemned the NPA use of landmines.

"The 10ID condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) by the NPAs. It is a clear violation of the provisions stipulated in IHL (International Humanitarian Law)," Faustino said in a statement.

Faustino said landmines may also inflict harm on civilians.

"We assure the public that 10ID is steadfast in performing our mandate of protecting the people and ensuring that communities are secured. With our joint effort, both military and civilian communities, terrorist-communist atrocities will not prosper," Faustino said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1057540