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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Reds leader trapped in Zambo Sur, ready to yield: military exec (3:15 p.m.)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Army soldiers are pursuing a top official of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Mindanao who is said to be trapped in a mountainous village in Zamboanga del Sur, and has sent feelers for his surrender, a military official claimed.
Colonel Jose Vizcarra, commander of the Army 401st Infantry Brigade (IB), said NDF spokesman Jorge Madlos alias Ka Oris was having a hard time slipping through the military cordon set up by 36th and 58th IB operatives in Barangay Sta. Juana, Tagbina, Zamboanga del Sur.
Vizcarra believed that his men would get Madlos soon after they barred residents of the village from gathering food to be sent to the rebel leader. He claimed Madlos sent a message to a government officer to work out the details for his surrender.
Madlos, who is in his 60s, can hardly traverse the mountains as he has been suffering from an acute kidney ailment for years, Vizcarra said.
To ensure Madlos and his men would not escape, the troops have been scouring the area on a 24-hour basis with K-9 dogs and attack helicopters.
At least seven clashes between the New People's Army (NPA) guerillas and government troops were recorded since the military operations in Tagbina started last January 8.
A rebel was killed while several others were wounded in those clashes, the military claimed. (Cheng Ordoņez) |
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