|
Friday, May 13, 2005
Rebels plan attacks in Mindanao: military
By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines' Special Operations Command chief Major General Germogenes Esperon confirmed reports Thursday that the New People's Army (NPA) are planning to launch a massive offensive campaign in Mindanao.
In an interview at the Naval Base Headquarters in Panacan, Davao City, Esperon admitted the NPA is still very much capable of launching massive attacks anywhere in the country.
This despite the major setbacks the rebel group allegedly incurred after intensive military operations in Surigao del Sur and in Davao Region.
Esperon said the NPA still has about 8,000 armed members all over the country.
But Esperon assured the public they are doing all they can to prevent any attacks by the NPA. He said if the need arises, his command is more than willing to send more of his men in the region for this purpose.
It was learned that the special operation command had already detailed the 2nd Special Forces Battalion and the 2nd Scout Rangers Battalion along with the Scout Rangers class 158 who are on a test mission here in Mindanao for their major military operations in the area.
A rebel camp was overran by Army troops in Region 11 while four caves that serve as armory of the NPA operating in Surigao del Sur also fell on military hands recently.
Major Jose Maria Cuerpo, 5th Civil Relations Group chief, said the Army's 404th Brigade discovered the NPA training camp in the boundaries of Davao City-Bukidnon-Davao del Norte a few days ago.
He said the military operation that led to the discovery of the camp is a complementary operation of the Army to the ongoing operation in Surigao that started last week.
The Army's 402nd Brigade under Colonel Ricardo David based in Surigao del Sur seized a rebel camp on May 8 that resulted to the death of four rebels following a thirty-minute firefight.
Major Alex Bravo, public information officer of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said the encounter also resulted to the recovery of truckload of assorted explosive materials, one M14 rifle, one 7.62 mm sniper rifle, two pistols, two grenades, personal belongings and several war materials.
Cuerpo said the seized camp was a big cave utilized by the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NMRC) of the CPP/NPA/NDF somewhere in Surigao del Sur.
Four more caves were also discovered nearby where C4 explosives were recovered along with rolls of detonating cord, four rounds of B40 rocket, thirty homemade hand grenades, one Thompson machinegun, one caliber 38 revolver, one satellite phone, magnetic wires and one grinder. (BOT)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 13, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
