Sunday, July 01, 2007 NPAs admit 2nd raid; Army nabs top cadre By Lizanilla J. Amarga
BOTH the military and the communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels pronounced their own victories in separate statements issued to media outlets as part of their ongoing war of attrition and propaganda against each other over the weekend.
The communist legal arm National Democratic Front (NDF) said its armed front, the NPA, claimed responsibility for recent raids in Agusan del Norte that reportedly killed seven government troopers and abducted some Cafgu members.
In response, the Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID) said it captured a top ranking communist cadre responsible for the murder of militant farmer leader Nestor Ladica in joint operations with the police in Balingasag town, Misamis Oriental.
Fourth ID Spokesman Samuel Sagun identified the top communist cadre officer as Rene Lopez alias Bobbit. Two warrants of arrest for robbery and homicide and rebellion were issued against Lopez by the province's Regional Trial Court.
The arrest came even as the police prepare charges against Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison.
This in relation to a communist NPA raid in one Bukidnon town police precinct that resulted in the death of one police officer and the confiscation of several firearms.
The developments also came even as the military reiterated that it is on schedule to eliminate the communist insurgency in the country before the end of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term.
NPA casualty
In interviews, National Democratic Front-Northern Mindanao Area (NDF-NMR) spokesman Ka Cesar Renerio said on Friday that NPA rebels raided an army patrol base in Lawan-Lawan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
He said through his commander Ka Emiliano that the raid was successful.
Renerio said the raid was conducted around 3:00 a.m. and that one of the cadres was killed while they carted away 17 assorted firearms.
He said their men in the area reported five to seven government soldiers killed.
Renerio's aide later on sent this text message: "Lawan-lawan Cafgus detained. Update, five cafgus ila gibirahan. Text rako ngalan." He added the firearms carted away include two M16s, two M14s, six carbines and four grenades along with assorted live ammunitions.
The communist rebels also claimed responsibility for the 8:00 a.m. Sunday incident in Monte Alegre, Kandiis Magsaysay where two two Cafgus were killed in action.
String of murders
The Associated Press on Friday quoted police reports as saying that the communist rebels raided an army patrol base in the Nieves, Agusan del Norte, killing seven troops and abducting three militiamen.
The army base in Las Nieves township in Agusan del Norte province came under attack by 60 heavily armed NPA insurgents around midnight Tuesday, Police Director Chief Superintendent Antonio Nanas said.
"There was a heavy firefight until the rebels overran the detachment," he said.
A local commander and six soldiers were killed, while the rebels abducted three government militiamen, Nanas said.
The town is located about 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in an area where rebel attacks are common.
For their part, the Fourth ID said the arrest of Lopez would serve as a warning to communist rebels who pursue terror tactics and extortion to further their political and ideological agenda.
The 4th ID claimed that Lopez is also responsible for a string of murders, including the killing of village Puting Balas chairperson Editha Bodbod of Talisayan town, Misamis Oriental.
Lopez is also accused of being behind the burning of the Bagong Lipunan Bus in Salay town, Misamis Oriental in March last year.
Balingasag and Salay towns are said to be hotspots for communist insurgency in Misamis Oriental and the military boosted its presence in these areas and secured public support for their activities.
