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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Rebels raid pearl farm in Palawan

Armed men who introduced themselves as communist rebels raided a pearl farm in Taytay, Palawan, where they seized six employees, firearms, and communication equipment, a military spokesperson said.

About 12 armed men, who told the pearl farm’s manager that they are New People’s Army (NPA) members, carried out the raid at the Salvamar Pearl Farm in Brgy. Pampang past 12 noon, Armed Forces Western Command spokesperson Lt. Cherryl Tindog said by phone.

“Nung umatake ‘yung armed group, tangay nila yung mga shotguns, handheld radios, saka speedboats ng kompanya. Kasama ‘yung mga operators ng speedboats kaya naging anim ‘yung tinangay nilang katao,” Tindog said.

The rebels, however, released the six pearl farm employees past 3 p.m. or around 4 p.m., she said.

“Nasa custody na ng provincial police ‘yung anim na personnel… ni-release sila ng abductors, sa ngayon naga-undergo sila ng debriefing at ‘yung medical attention ibinibigay na rin,” Tindog said.

The regional military spokesperson declined to say where the hostages were freed so as not to jeopardize ongoing pursuit operations by troops.

Tindog said it is likely that the attack stemmed from extortion because the NPA had previously sent “demand letters” to the pearl farm management.

“Merong kasing mga previous incidents na ‘yung grupo ng NPA na ito, under the leadership ni alyas Ka Arnel, na meron silang demand letters na nag-eextort sila doon. Siguro dahil hindi naibibigay, hindi naggi-five in ‘yung management ng Salvamar Pearl Farm, kaya nag-retaliate sila,” she said.

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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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9 killed, 6 hurt in Negros Occidental rebel ambush

A member of the police’s forensics team examining the crime scene while two of the slain lie nearby. (Photo from Negros Occidental PNP)

[more photos here] (Update) Nine people, including a policeman, were killed while at least six others were injured in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, early Sunday, police said.

Chief Insp. Rico Santotome, provincial police spokesman, said the fatalities include PO1 Richard Canja, assigned at the La Castellana Police Station.

The eight other fatalities were barangay tanods, members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), and a tanod’s wife, Santotome, who went to the area after the incident, said in a phone interview.

He identified them as tanods Mario Ricablanca and Tiotimo Esplegera of Brgy. Puso, BPAT members Ulysses Tamayor, Jonathan Mateo and Ramir Complesa, civilians Lito Lucban and Virginia Ordonez, and truck driver Ricky Dingcong.

Some of the victims still lying inside the truck. (Photo from Negros Occidental PNP)

Two other policemen, identified as PO3 Constantino Villegas and PO2 Jeffrey Alvarez, and at least four civilians were injured in the attack and have been brought to hospitals, Santotome said.

The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. while members of the La Castellana Police, BPAT, tanods, and some of their family members, including children, were passing through a remote area in Brgy. Puso on a Canter truck.

The policemen, tanods, and BPAT members had just finished providing security to the barangay fiesta, Santotome said.

About 30 fully-armed men flagged down the truck, told the children to disembark from the vehicle, and then fired upon those who were left on board, he said.

“Nung pinarahan, dun nagstop ‘yung truck, dun nila (armed men) binanatan and then pina-ano pa, finishing, lalo na ‘yung pulis, tinira pa sa ulo para ma-ensure na patay,” Santotome said.

The rebels, who took at least three M16 rifles and three caliber-.45 pistols from the victims, are believed to have withdrawn to neighboring Negros Oriental after the incident.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Celestino Guara has ordered the Provincial Public Safety Company to pursue the rebels with the help of the Army’s Special Forces and Scout Rangers, Santotome said. (John Roson)

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Soldier killed, 6 hurt in rebel landmine attack; troops’ homes raided

One soldier was killed while at least six others were injured when suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members detonated a landmine against a convoy of military trucks in Lupon, Davao Oriental, early Tuesday, the military said.

Private first class Jhasam Diaz of the 28th Infantry Battalion expired while being brought to a hospital, Army 10th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza said.

Six other soldiers were wounded and are now being treated at the Tagum Regional Hospital and Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Mati City, Paniza said.

The attack occurred around 12:20 a.m., while Diaz and other members of the 28th IB’s “peace and development team” were passing through Sitio Mainit, Brgy. Calapagan, on two military trucks.

The team was heading back to its headquarters when a landmine exploded and hit the rear portion of the second vehicle, Paniza said.

The attacked troops had just finished providing security to other soldiers who are conducting rehabilitation operations in areas affected by typhoon “Pablo,” according to the regional military spokesman.

“The NPA again showed barbarism and inhuman acts by disturbing our humanitarian assistance activities,” Paniza said.

Troops’ homes raided

Meanwhile, suspected NPA members raided homes of active and retired soldiers, as well as a former policeman, in Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental, around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

About 25 fully-armed men “simultaneously ransacked” the houses of Pfc. Benjamin Timbal, of the 58th Infantry Battalion; retired Ssgt. Eliseo Salvacion; and retired PO4 Ananias Requerme in Purok 4, Brgy. Poblacion, Army 4th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias said.

The rebels also raided the homes of former municipal councilor Benito Salvacion and one Vionica Llagas, Northern Mindanao regional police spokesman Supt. Ronnie Francis Cariaga said.

The raiders took Army camouflage uniforms, a pair of combat boots, a caliber-.45 pistol, four cellular phones, and other personal belongings before fleeing towards hilly part of Brgy. Buko Gamay, he said.

No one was reported injured during the raids.

Members of the 58th IB were sent to pursue the rebels, Osias said. (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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Ranking NPA leader with P5.2M bounty nabbed in Negros Oriental

Felimon Mendrez. (file photo from Central Visayas regional police)

Government troops arrested a ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader labeled as the country’s sixth most wanted man during an operation in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental, on Tuesday morning, military officials said.

Felimon Mendrez, commander of the NPA Kilusang Rehiyon Negros’ Regional Strike Force, was arrested in Brgy. Tubod around 10 a.m., Col. Francisco Zosimo Patrimonio, commander of the Army’s 302nd Brigade, said.

Operatives of the 302nd Brigade, 33rd Military Intelligence Company, 11th Infantry Battalion, and the Negros Oriental Provincial Police carried out the arrest on warrants for robbery in band and rebellion, Patrimonio said in a text message.

Mendrez, who uses the aliases Tatay and Edon, is number 6 in the police’s most wanted list and has a P5.25-million bounty on his head, said Maj. Enrico Ileto, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.

Before holding his current position in the rebel movement, Mendrez served as head of the NPA Central Visayas’ Front Committee 2 and deputy head of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ Central Visayas Revolutionary Party Committee, Ileto said.

Mendrez had led some successful tactical offensives against troops in Negros Island and other areas of Central Visayas, Patrimonio said.

“The arrest will certainly give a better opportunity for us in Central Visayas to celebrate the holidays more peacefully,” Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, commander of the 3rd ID, said.

“Law enforcement operations” shall continue even as troops observe a suspension of offensive military operations, Mabanta added. (John Roson)

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Troops foil NPA attack in Quezon, 3 rebels arrested

Government troops foiled an attack by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Quezon, arresting three members of the rebel group who were carrying firearms and explosives in San Francisco town Friday night, the military said.

Arrested were Dennis Quidor, team leader of an NPA “special operations unit;” and Rodrigo Guevarra and Eliseo Lopez, both new “full-time” members of the rebel group, Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command spokesman Col. Generoso Bolina said.

Authorities also took into custody Alex Herez and Ariel Bordane, both residents of San Francisco who were hired by the rebels as drivers, Bolina said in a text message.

The five were apprehended around 11 p.m., when the two motorcycles they were riding passed through a checkpoint manned by soldiers and policemen, he said.

The motorcycles earlier avoided another checkpoint at the military patrol base in Brgy. Ilayang Tayuman, also in the same town, Bolina said.

Quidor, Guevarra, and Lopez were carrying bags that contained an improvised explosive device, a hand grenade, seven blasting caps, an improvised caliber-.22 gun, a loaded M16 rifle magazine, loaded caliber-.45 pistol magazine, poncho, and subversive documents, he said.

“Accordingly, the three were tasked to conduct a ‘final reconnaissance’ before the rebels stage attacks in the towns of Mulanay, San Francisco, and San Narciso,” Bolina said.

Quidor, Guevarra, and Lopez, as well as Herez and Bordane, remain under custody while charges are being prepared, according to the regional military spokesman. (John Roson)

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Soldier killed in Iloilo clash amid govt ceasefire

One soldier was killed as troops clashed with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Miag-ao, Iloilo, on Monday, amid the government ceasefire, a military spokesman said.

The clash occurred in Sitio Anoy, Brgy. Cabalaunan, around 10:40 a.m., Maj. Enrico Ileto, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said in a phone interview.

Troops were patrolling to prevent a reported plan by the NPA to attack a militia detachment when they were suddenly fired upon, Ileto said.

The troops retaliated but the suspected rebels had the better position and thus inflicted a casualty on the government side, he said.

Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, commander of the 3rd ID, said pursuit was launched after the incident as part of “defensive security operations.”

The Armed Forces said started its suspension of military offensive (SOMO) against the NPA on Sunday and will implement it until Jan. 2.

The suspension, however, does not cover security patrols, checkpoints, and pursuit against attackers.

“We will continue to observe the SOMO. The Army’s commitment to peace will always be present especially during this Christmas season. Communities should be given the opportunity to celebrate the yuletide peacefully,” Mabanta said in a statement. (John Roson)

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