1 dead as Army clash with NPA extortionists in ComVal

Camp Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City, July 14, 2010– A New People’s Army (NPA) fighter was killed and several others were believed wounded as soldiers clashed with NPAs in the village of Tandawan in New Bataan town in Compostela Valley Province 4:00 PM Wednesday.

Troops of the 66th Infantry Battalion (66IB) were conducting security patrol due to persistent information from residents on NPAs extorting money from households when they encountered about 20 armed extortionists belonging to Local Terrorist Front-27 led by still unidentified terrorist leader. Government troops recovered an M653 Assault Rifle (Baby Armalite) in the possession of the still unidentified dead NPA who was left behind by his comrades following the 30-minute clash.



“Reports of NPAs extorting money from residents have been persisting for about a couple of days and today we received specific information from residents on their exact location. The dead NPA might be one of their leaders as M653 Assault Rifles are not commonly handled by ordinary combatants. The cadaver will be brought to New Bataan proper to be identified by relatives so that he may be given appropriate burial.” Said Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of 66IB. “

Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division said “security operations will be continuously conducted by our soldiers for the people to have a secured community without the threat, intimidation and coercion by the NPAs under the absolute order of the CPP.”

“Similar operations are also being conducted region-wide to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of government services to the people and the implementation of much needed peace and development projects.” Holganza added.

Last Saturday, soldiers conducted a “Battle of the Bands” and concert for peace in downtown Davao City highlighting peace and development projects of the Armed Forces in different parts of southern Mindanao in the form of music. Security schemes being conducted to protect the people from terrorists and saboteurs were also given highlight in the four hour concert.

2 M16 recovered by troops as Reds flee in series of encounters in Davsur

Camp Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City, July 7, 2010– Government troops engaged New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists in a series of gunbattles in Digos City and Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur province today.

The two separate firefights came following clash between NPAs and army troops from 39th Infantry Battalion (39IB) and 72nd Infantry Battalion (72IB) yesterday in Sitio (sub-village) Upper Bakoko in the village of Kapatagan in Digos City. It may be recalled that at least two NPAs were believed killed in Tuesday’s gunbattle where soldiers also recover an M16 assault rifle.

The first engagement occurred when pursuing troops of 39IB caught-up with about 15 terrorists at 9:00 AM still in Sitio Upper Bakoko in the village of Kapatagan. Soldiers engaged the terrorists but the NPAs refused to put-up a fight and instead fled leaving an M16 assault rifle which was recovered by government troops. A few hours later in the afternoon at 2:00 PM, another gunbattle erupted between troops from the Division Reconnaissance Company and about 10 fleeing NPAs in Sitio Mariras in the village of Sibulan in nearby Sta. Cruz town. Troops recovered another M16 assault rifle following the brief clash.

Authorities believe that some of the NPAs were wounded in Tuesday’s gunbattle thus refusing to put-up a fight.

Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division said the series of encounters is a “proof that the NPAs have nowhere to go but surrender in light of the growing support of the people to our campaign against terrorism.”

Holganza renewed his call for NPAs to “leave their wounded so that we can take care of them and be given appropriate medical attention rather than risking their lives.”

“The wounded NPAs are our fellow Filipinos and our misguided brothers need to realize that the government can best provide medical attention to them as what we have done to Zaldy Canete, the high ranking NPA leader who surrendered after being wounded last January.” Holganza added.

Army, reds clash anew in DavSur

Camp Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City, July 6, 2010– Soldiers from the Army’s 10th Infantry Division and New People’s Army (NPA) clashed anew in Southern Mindanao in Sitio (sub-village) Upper Bakoko in the village of Kapatagan in Digos City in the province of Davao del Sur 3:45 PM today.

Troops from the 39th Infantry Battalion responded to information of residents and encountered about 15 NPAs led by a certain Roberto Castillote alias Enoy belonging to Local Terrorist Front-51. The ten-minute firefight resulted to the recovery of one M16 assault rifle.

Authorities believe atleast two terrorists were dead or wounded as troops witnessed the bodies being dragged away by their comrades. Troops said the fatalities were confirmed by residents who saw two bodies being carried by the NPAs as they fled.

Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division said the gunbattle is a “proof of the growing support of the people to our campaign against terrorism and the dwindling influence of the NPAs in the countryside.”

“We urge our misguided brothers to take the peaceful path and surrender so that they may have a new life with their families but we cannot let them abuse our peaceloving people who are often at the receiving end of their extortion and terroristic attacks.” Holganza concluded.

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Reds car-nap trucks anew, fail again in attack against troops in Dvo Region

Camp Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City, July 01, 2010 - Local terrorists failed in an evening attack against troops on peace efforts holding temporary patrol base in the village of Cambagang in Maragusan town in Compostela Valley province 9:15 PM Wednesday.

About 50 armed New People’s Army (NPA) belonging to Local Terrorist Front-27 of the Southern Mindanao Region onboard two car-napped Sadam trucks attacked the temporary Patrol base of one squad of the 66th Infantry Battalion (66IB) but failed and fled after a 30-minute firefight.

A civilian passerby identified as Nanetes Niengo, 23 years old, was wounded by NPA fires during the course of the gunbattle and was rushed to the regional hospital in Tagum City by soldiers and village officials.

Government troops suffered two slightly wounded during the exchange of fire indentified as Sgt Reglyn Locario and Pfc Jimmy Galiza who are now recuperating in the hospital. One of the trucks was recovered by the troops together with spent shells of ammunitions used by the terrorists several kilometers away.

“The terrorists surely suffered many casualties as they were forced to retreat despite their big number as compared to the squad in the temporary patrol base. One of their leaders might be one of the casualties as one Icom radio was left behind by them. Radios are normally used by their leaders.” said Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of 66IB.

Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of 10th Infantry Division deplored the repeated use of “treachery by the NPAs in carrying out their terroristic acts against the people by car-napping vehicles and coercing civilians to drive them during their attacks like the previous cases in this region which are violations of laws and put the lives of non-combatants in danger.” Holganza also said, “NPAs disregarded the safety of civilians as they conducted the attack even if civilians were clearly present during that time.”

Last month, NPAs belonging to Local Terrorist Front-20 attacked a police detachment in Cateel town in nearby Davao Oriental province but instead suffered five dead. Local Terrorist Front-18 also attacked a road project in Banay-banay town still in Davao Oriental. In both instances, the terrorists used two car-napped trucks and forced civilians to drive the vehicles during the attack.

Last February, 13 year old Memilyn Moreno was killed by the NPA in their attack against a road project in Boston town still in Davao oriental while December last year, 55 year old Rosalinda Clata was killed by NPAs in an attack against the same road project in Boston. The attacks were carried out after Sebastian Construction Company refused to give extortion money to the NPA.