Thursday, December 25, 2008 Military on full red alert in W. Visayas
Military and police authorities in Western Visayas are on full alert status for possible offensives by New People's Army rebels in time for its 40th anniversary on December 26, 2008.
Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez, commander of the 32nd Civil Relations Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Western Visayas, raised the warning after two passenger vans of Susie Star Transport that operate in Southern Iloilo and Antique were torched by suspected communist rebels at Sitio Quipot, Barangay Prantilla, in Miagao, Iloilo.
Marquez said the transport company failed to pay revolutionary taxes amounting to P1 million to the communist rebels.
Apart from setting the vehicles on fire, the rebels planted an improvised explosive device in its engine. The maroon Nissan Urvan was totally damaged while the white Nissan Urvan's engine and windshield were damaged.
Responding soldiers of the 391st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army conducted a hot pursuit operation against the insurgents, clad in civilian attire, which immediately fled to nearby hinterland areas Igbaras township.
Barangay folks claimed the insurgents were in their village a day before their patronal fest. (LCP)
