Saturday, May 06, 2006
Troops kill 4 communist rebels in Mindanao clash
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Patrolling soldiers killed four members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in a clash before sunrise Friday in the southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said the fighting erupted around 5:00 a.m. in the village of Los Angeles in the outskirts of Butuan City in Agusan del Norte Province.
One government soldier was also wounded in the clash, said Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Simbajon, spokesman for the Army's 4th Infantry Division.
The soldiers were patrolling the village when they ran into the group of insurgents and a firefight ensued, he said.
"Troops under 2nd Lieutenant Jonathan Escopalao, of the 30th Infantry Battalion, recovered the bodies of the slain insurgents, including three M16, an M203, and M1 automatic rifles and many anti-government propaganda," Simbajon said.
He said villagers were complaining that insurgents were collecting illegal taxation and that those who refused to pay up were threatened with harm.
The NPA stepped up its offensive in the countryside after peace talks with the Arroyo government collapsed in 2004 following the pullout of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front from the negotiations due to their continued inclusion in the terror lists of the United States and the European Union.
Rebel leaders demanded that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ask the United States and the European Union to strike them off from the terror lists before they resume peace talks. Manila also suspended safety and immunity guarantee for its negotiators following the collapse of the peace talks. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(May 6, 2006 issue)
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