A detachment of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit in Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla was attacked Wednesday allegedly by 10 New People's Army members, report said.

The attack resulted to a 10-minute firefight, a report from the 11th Infantry Battalion said.

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Philippine Army 11th IB Commander Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal said the NPA group was forced to move out in different direction when they escaped from the firing scene.

The NPA withdrew and split in a different direction, Gacal said, adding that no casualties or wounded have been reported from the military's camp, but however on the NPA's side, it could not be ascertained.

The rebels were confirmed to be manned by the Mitchelle Fat group responsibly in attacking the camp at around 10 p.m., Gacal said.

He added that detachment commander SSG Jorge Padilla, reported that the camp was bombarded with retaliatory fires that failed to pursue government troops.

"This violent action is an indication that the NPA activities have been severely affected since the installation of the military in the area," Gacal said, adding the soldier's camp especially barangay Macagahay is the last remaining strong hold of the NPA in central Negros.

The NPA's conduct of hostile action in an area of the locality that is no longer a solid mass base is a normal undertaking of the group, Gacal said, adding that they (rebels) would sow fear so that local residents would stop supporting the military.

Further, Gacal said that the NPA's "harassment" of the army is a retaliation of the group because the elder Fat was arrested with firearms as the reason of his detention. The elder Fat is the father of Mitchelle.

The Fat Brothers led by Mitchelle had been identified by the military being supported by the old NPA organization being their new members.

The harassment was patterned in the June 12, 2008 Linantuyan, Guihulngan, in Negros Oriental which Gacal said is demonstrated by the rebels to create a scenario projecting that their group remains strong, influential and powerful.

Meanwhile, Gacal said that in as far as the army' counter-insurgency actions are concerned, he opined that "it is so encouraging" as he cited that the recent surrender of two amazons in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental, four other rebels in Himamaylan City in southern Negros Occidental, and the surrender of firearms, as well as the capture and the killing of NPA leaders, are overwhelming achievements. (George M. De La Cruz)