1 killed, 4 hurt in ambush on candidates’ convoys in Maguindanao, North Cotabato

At least one person was killed while four others were injured in two separate ambuscades against candidates in Maguindanao and North Cotabato on Saturday, the military said.

Kiang Nasser, a nephew of South Upi mayoralty candidate Mohammad Digo “Datu Baba” Omar Jr., was killed when the latter’s convoy was ambushed along in Km 30 of the road in North Upi, Maguindanao, around 5:30 p.m., Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said.

Omar’s uncle, Turno Omar, was injured and brought to the Datu Blah Sinsuat Hospital.

Omar, a candidate of PDP-Laban, is one of seven people running for mayor of South Upi. Another candidate is incumbent Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong, who is running under the Liberal Party.

Around 11:50 p.m. the same day, three supporters of Floro Allado, a vice mayoralty candidate in Banisilan, North Cotabato, were injured when armed men ambushed his convoy in Brgy. Wadya.

Allado and his supporters were on their way home from campaigning in Brgy. Gastav, on board his Ford Everest and commando-type owner jeep, when they were fired upon, Hermoso said.

The candidate was not hit, but three of his supporters were wounded and brought to the Wao Hospital in Wao, Lanao del Sur, according to the military official.

Allado is one of four people running for vice mayor in Banisilan. (John Roson)

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Suspected rebels ambush PCOS escorts: 2 soldiers killed, 6 hurt

Two soldiers were killed while six others were injured as suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members ambushed government troops escorting precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in Tabuk City, Kalinga, Thursday morning, police and military officials said.

Senior Supt. Froilan Perez, Kalinga provincial police director, identified the slain soldiers as Cpl. Wilfredo Bacacao and Cpl. Allen Pattaguan, both of the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion.

Injured were Pfc. Delfin Goyagoy, Ssgt. Rico Delacuesta, Sgt. Wayne Aguinaldo, Tsgt. Herminigildo Vergara, Tsgt. Constante Alupani, and Ssgt. Michael Adducul, also members of the 17th IB.

The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m., while Commission on Elections (Comelec) representatives carrying PCOS machines were convoying along the Kalinga-Bontoc road in Sitio Patiking, Brgy. Bagumbayan, escorted by policemen and Army troopers.

Perez said the group was heading towards Balbalan town when an undetermined number of armed men fired upon the soldiers, who were at the convoy’s tail.

“Pinalampas muna ‘yung mga taga-Comelec, BEIs (board of election inspectors), saka ‘yung PNP escort, pero pagdating dun sa Army inupakan na sila,” Perez said in a phone interview.

Col. Loreto Magundayao, spokesman of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said the soldiers and policemen were able to return fire, but it was not known if the rebels also suffered casualties.

“Ang mahalaga naman dun, ‘yung mga taga-Comelec safe sila at saka ‘yung PCOS machine nai-safe nila kaagad at hindi naman nasira or nakuha,” Magundayao said.

Perez said the local police’s “quick reaction force” is now conducting checkpoints to intercept rebels who may be wounded.

“‘Yun na lang ang magagawa namin sa ngayon kasi karamihan ng tropa namin sa PNP naka-deploy na sa mga polling centers kasi bukas na ‘yung final testing ng PCOS machines. Sa Army, may hot pursuit operations sila ngayon,” Perez said. (John Roson)

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8 killed as troops clash with Abu Sayyaf in Basilan

Two Army personnel, including an officer, and six suspected Abu Sayyaf members were killed as government troops clashed with bandits who ambushed them in Al Barka, Basilan, on Monday, military officials said.

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, identified the fatalities on the government side as Maj. Alin Kannung, executive officer of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, and Tsgt. Ferdinand Costan.

Six suspected Abu Sayyaf members were killed but only two bodies, identified to be those of a certain “Mingkong” and Mardan Sapilin, were recovered, Galvez said.

Four other soldiers, including Cpl. Julambre Sabri of the 18th Infantry Battalion, were injured during the clash while three Abu Sayyaf members wer reportedly wounded, he said.

The clash occurred around 3 p.m. while members of the 32nd and 18th IB were passing through Sitio Pagtawanan, Brgy. Magcawa, on military vehicles.

The soldiers were on their way to Brgy. Bohe Piang to distribute livestock and inspect future projects of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), when they were ambushed by about 30 fully-armed men, Galvez said.

The armed men are members of the Abu Sayyaf and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters led by Basir Kasaran alias Commander Basir and Musana Jamiri, he said.

“The government forces were subjected to mortar and sniper fires for three hours,” Galvez said.

“Naka-dismount naman ‘yung mga tropa natin during that and were able to fight back,” he said.

Kannung, a native of Tipo-Tipo, was a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander who was integrated into the Armed Forces after the government signed a peace agreement with that rebel group in 1996, Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, AFP Western Mindanao spokesman, said.

After joining the AFP, Kannung had been “very active” in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and this is believed to be the cause of the bandits’ hatred on him, Gregorio said.

Kannung’s group was to distribute goats and other livestock as part of the 104th Brigade’s livelihood assistance to residents of Brgys. Kambug and Bohe Piang, when they were ambushed, according to the regional military spokesman.

The area is the “home base” of Commander Dan Asnawi, Gregorio said.

Asnawi commands an armed unit of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with whom soldiers figured in a bloody clash on Oct. 18, 2011. Nineteen soldiers and five MILF guerrillas died in that fighting.

Gregorio said all the soldiers who were injured in Monday’s clash have been airlifted to the Camp Navarro Station Hospital in Zamboanga City.

Members of the 18th IB, backed by members of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, continued distributing livestock to residents of Brgy. Magcawa on Tuesday, despite the ambush, Galvez said. (John Roson)

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5 soldiers killed in clash after NPA attacks mine site in Negros Occidental

Five soldiers were killed while two were injured in a clash with New People’s Army (NPA) members Saturday, hours after the rebels attacked a large-scale mine site in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Friday night, the military said.

Capt. Leo Christopher Cunanan, spokesman of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, declined to name casualties until their families are informed, but said those killed and injured are all enlisted personnel assigned at the 47th Infantry Battalion.

The clash occurred in Sitio Omas, Brgy. Camindangan, around 7:40 a.m. and lasted for about an hour, Cunanan said.

The rebels also managed to take six firearms from the troops, who were sent to pursue an NPA members who attacked the compound of Philex Mining Corp. in the same area, he said.

An undetermined number of rebels entered the mining company’s compound around 9 p.m. Friday, and burned two employees’ barracks, a tractor with drilling machine, generator set, computer, hand held radio, and personal belongings, Cunanan said.

Pursuit operations against the rebels were still continuing Saturday despite the clash that claimed soldiers’ lives, he said.

“The perpetrators shall be identified and will be charged accordingly with appropriate criminal cases in court,” Cunanan added.

Philex Mining is currently trying to revive a copper-gold mine called the “Bulawan Project” in Sipalay City.

The mine was decommissioned in 2002 because of low metal prices prevailing at the time.

Higher gold prices have prompted Philex Mining to re-explore the mine, which is estimated to have 23.9 million tons of mineralized ore. (John Roson)

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Rebels snatch 10 persons in Caraga

Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members abducted seven militiamen, two policemen, and a civilian in separate incidents in the Caraga region on Sunday and Monday, authorities said Tuesday.

Mario Libanda, 39; Tuloy Libanda, 36; Rejoy Francisco, 25; and Rubio Asalan, 23, all members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA), were abducted at a checkpoint manned by about 30 rebels in Brgy. Mahayhay, San Luis, Agusan del Sur, around 9 a.m. Monday, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said.

The militiamen were riding a motorcycle to Brgy. Binicalan, San Luis, when they were flagged down at the rebel checkpoint, he said.

The fully-armed men at the roadblock are believed to be members of the NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee’s Guerrilla Front 88, Cabangbang said.

Militiamen assigned to nearby Army detachments have been directed to track down the rebels while local officials of San Luis have created a crisis management task group to work for the victims’ release, he said.

The abduction occurred only several hours after other NPA members abducted two policemen in Loreto, also in Agusan del Sur, on Sunday night.

PO2 Ronald Alan Muñez and PO1 Nemuel España, both assigned at the Loreto Police Station, were abducted by about six rebels in Brgy. Poblacion around 11:15 p.m. Caraga regional police spokesman Supt. Martin Gamba said.

Muñez and España were conducting surveillance operations against the suspect for a stabbing incident in Sitio Moto, when the rebels seized and brought them towards Sitio Marang, Brgy. Kasapa, Gamba said.

The local government of Loreto has activated a crisis management committee to work for the hostages’ release, he said.

Earlier on Sunday, rebels abducted three more militiamen and a civilian in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.

At least five rebels abducted CAA members Evangeline Cabodbod, Leonardo Sevellejo Sr., Danny Sevellejo, and civilian Vicente Bolgado near Road 4H in Sitio Greenfield, Brgy. Sta. Juana, around 10 a.m., according to a report from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

The four had just attended mass when they were seized by armed men who are believed to be members of the NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee’s Guerrilla Front 14, the report said.

Capt. Christian Uy, acting spokesman of the 4th ID, confirmed the report, but said the rebels have already freed Bolgado.

The incident occurred less than an hour after five rebel snipers fired at the 23rd Infantry Battalion’s patrol base in Sitio Greenfield.

Lito Dagium, one of the militiamen manning the patrol base that time, suffered a bullet wound to the right side of the body due to the sniping.

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Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon wounded in Basilan raid – Army

Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, who is wanted by the US government, was wounded in the raid by the military in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, on Monday, an Army official said Tuesday.

Hapilon was grazed by a bullet on the head as reported by military snipers, Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, said in a phone interview.

A nephew of Hapilon also suffered a bullet wound to the shoulder while at least four other Abu Sayyaf members were injured, Galvez said.

Hapilon and the other wounded, however, escaped during the raid which targeted him and Furuji Indama, another high-ranking Abu Sayyaf commander.

“Apparently naka[takas] po sila (Hapilon and Indama), pero si Isnilon nagkaroon ng slight wound sa head,” Galvez said.

Eight Abu Sayyaf gunmen were seen as getting killed in the firefight, but troops recovered only two bodies, he said.

A report reaching the military headquarters in Manila said the two bodies found at the clash site belonged to an alias “Abu Digod” and a certain Buga Teddy.

Three soldiers, identified as Sgt. Magno of the Army, A2C Kasilag of the Air Force, and SN1 Merquit of the Navy, were wounded in the firefight, according to the report.

Galvez said the raid in Brgy. Silangkum was launched purposely to find Hapilon and Indama because their groups have been “pestering” Basilan residents with kidnappings and extortion.

“Walang let up po ito. Walang let up po itong operations na ito until the Tipo-Tipo and Al Barka areas have been cleared of the Abu Sayyaf. Nagfo-focused military operations kami ngayon,” he said.

According to the official, Hapilon and Indama’s latest exploits include extorting “protection money” from the contractor of the Basilan Circumferential Road.

“Ine-extort nila ng P1 million ‘yung contractor, P2 billion kasi ang contract nun… parang protection money ang hinihingi,” he said.

The contractor has so far finished 12 kilometers of the 121-kilometer road that would run around the entire island-province, according to the official.

Hapilon first gained notoriety for his involvement in the May 2001 incident at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan where 20 people, including three Americans, were kidnapped.

Guillermo Sobero, one of the three American kidnap victims, was beheaded a month after the abduction.

American missionary Martin Burnham, the other kidnap victim, was killed in the crossfire between the Abu Sayyaf and soldiers who conducted a rescue operation in October 2001. His wife Gracia was injured but rescued.

The Dos Palmas kidnappings prompted the US government to offer up to $5 million, or more than P206 million, for Hapilon’s capture or killing.

Indama, though not included in the US list of Filipino terror suspects, is an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander blamed for several bombing and kidnapping incidents, as well as the 2007 beheading of 10 Marine troopers in Basilan.

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At least 6 Abu Sayyaf members killed as troops raid bandit lair in Basilan

At least six Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed while three soldiers were injured as government troops raided the bandit group’s lair in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, early Monday.

The operation in Brgy. Silangkum was launched purposely to find Abu Sayyaf commanders Furuji Indama and Isnilon Hapilon, Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, said by phone.

Troops clashed with an undetermined number of bandits around 5:30 a.m. and the firefight lasted for three hours, Galvez said.

Soldiers captured the Abu Sayyaf’s encampment an hour into the fighting, he said.

The Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, meanwhile, said it coordinated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front before carrying out the operation.

“The operation was conducted and directed only against the Abu Sayyaf, with utmost consideration for the safety of MILF communities in the operational area,” Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, AFP Westmincom spokesman, said in a statement. (John Roson)

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Rebels raid Del Monte, Dole plantations in Bukidnon

Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members staged simultaneous attacks on agro-industrial firms Del Monte and Dole’s compounds in Bukidnon on Tuesday evening, killing a security guard and injuring two others, a military official said.

Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division said about 50 rebels conducted the attack on Del Monte’s plantation in Camp Philips, Manolo Fortich.

The rebels, who arrived on three vans and two trucks around 6:30 p.m., burned a tractor, sprayer, and other equipment of Del Monte then shot the company’s guards, Osias said by phone.

A guard initially identified as Boboy Neri was killed in the attack while two other guards named Franklin Millanes and Boboy Jumawan were wounded, according to the regional Army spokesman.

The rebels also “ransacked” buildings inside the compound and took civilians employees’ cellphones, laptops, and other valuables, Osias said.

Around the same time, an undetermined number of rebels also raided Dole’s plantation in Impasug-ong, where they took a guard’s caliber-.38 pistol, he said.

As this was going on, other rebels also conducted “checkpoints” in Brgy. La Fortuna, Impasug-ong, as well as in the town of Sumilao, Osias said.

Policemen from Manolo Fortich were stripped of two M16 rifles and an M14 rifle at one rebel roadblock, while civilians’ cellphones were confiscated, he said.

“Tapos naglagay sila ng mga spikes sa daan din, ang daming tinamaan na mga sasakyan,” Osias said.

While withdrawing from the Del Monte plantation towards Brgy. Dahilayan, the rebels temporarily held a barangay chairman and some habal-habal drivers, who they used as “human shields” against pursuing troops, he said.

The abducted barangay chairman was confirmed to have been released Wednesday morning.

Local police have been sent to secure and conduct investigation at the areas while members of the 8th and 58th Infantry Battalions were scattered to pursue the rebels, he said.

“Sa ngayon contained na ‘yung area,” said Osias. (John Roson)

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Rebels abduct soldier, policeman in Compostela Valley

A band of New People’s Army (NPA) members abducted a soldier and a policeman while conducting a “checkpoint” in Laak, Compostela Valley, on Thursday, a military official said.

Maj. Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, head of the Army’s 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion, identified the abducted soldier as Pfc. Jezreel Culango and the policeman, PO1 Ruel Pasion.

The two were abducted by members of the NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Committee’s Front 34, who conducted a checkpoint in Sitio Mangob, Brgy. Imelda, around 9 a.m., Obligado said in a text message late Thursday night.

Culango, based in Brgy. Sawata, San Isidro, Davao del Norte, was on his way to visit his girlfriend in Brgy. Mangloy when he was seized, Obligado said.

Pasion, assigned at the San Isidro Police Station, also happened to pass by the checkpoint when he was abducted, according to the military official.

The rebels, of whom 12 were seen sporting military attires and 18 in civilian clothes, were last seen heading towards Sitio Tugpahan, Brgy. Imelda, along with their captives, Obligado said.

Police and military personnel are were sent to pursue the rebels.

The abduction came just two days after the government and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ended an “extended” holiday ceasefire.

On Thursday, the CPP also warned of more offensives by the NPA, in response to new Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista’s pronouncement to make insurgency “irrelevant” during his term.

“The New People’s Army continues to grow in number and in terms of firepower… Over the next few years, the NPA and the people’s militias will be able to initiate more frequent and widespread tactical offensives at the front, regional, inter-regional and national levels,” the CPP’s information bureau said in a statement.

“General Bautista cannot stop the momentum of growth of the New People’s Army,” it added.

Bautista, who is credited for the military’s current counter-insurgency plan “Bayanihan,” took over as AFP chief of staff on Thursday. (John Roson)

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13 suspected crime group members killed in Quezon gunbattle

Thirteen suspected members of a criminal group were killed while a police official was injured in a clash between Atimonan and Plaridel, Quezon, on Sunday afternoon, police and military officials said.

Members of the Calabarzon regional police intelligence division and Quezon Provincial Police encountered suspected members of a “partisan armed group” around 3 p.m., PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo said in a text message.

Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Southern Luzon Command, said the policemen, along with members of the Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion, flagged down two Montero sports utility vehicles at a checkpoint in Brgy. Tanauan, Plaridel, but were fired upon by the vehicles’ occupants.

The shooting prompted the policemen and soldiers to retaliate, Bolina said.

Thirteen were killed on the criminal group’s side while a certain Supt. Marantan was injured on the government side, Cerbo said.

Supt. Hansel Marantan was rushed to the Dona Martha Hospital due to bullet wounds to the left arm and left foot, but was later transferred to a hospital in Lucena City, according to Chief Supt. James Melad, Calabarzon regional police director.

The suspects’ SUVs were also destroyed during the shootout, Bolina said.

Troops recovered an M14 rifle, M16 baby armalite rifle, and at least eight caliber-.45 pistols from the slain suspects, he added. (John Roson)

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