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Sunday, November 09, 2008
Rebels kill 4 in clashes
DAVAO CITY -- Government troops captured a communist rebel encampment Saturday but lost two soldiers and a militiaman in gunbattles in Compostela Valley Saturday, the military said.
In another encounter with the communist guerrilla in Batangas, a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed.
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Lieutenant Colonel Kurt Decapia, spokesman for the Army's 10th Infantry
Division, said government troops seized the rebel camp early Saturday from NPA rebels outside Monkayo town in Compostela Valley province.
After securing the camp, where soldiers recovered various rebel documents, another clash erupted with the rebels who had "overwhelming numbers and firepower," Decapia said. He could not estimate the guerrillas' numbers.
He said two soldiers and one government militiaman were killed and one army officer was missing following the second clash. Army Special Forces were in pursuit of the fleeing rebels.
Decapia withheld the identities of the fallen soldiers pending the information of their immediate families and relatives.
Troops from 3rd Special Forces Battalion and 1003rd Infantry Brigade are on pursuit operations.
There were no immediate reports of rebel casualties.
Meanwhile, Danilo Mayo alias Abet or Gallie, platoon leader of the NPA’s Sangay sa Platun 1 covering western part of Batangas, was killed in a gunfight with soldiers belonging to the 730th Combat Group under Major Carlos Orcino in Barangay Talibayog, Calatagan, Batangas Friday night.
Captain Peter Garceniego, spokesman for the military's 2nd Infantry Division, said the soldiers were on combat operation when they caught up with at least 10 rebels, including Mayo.
Mayo is a native of Mindoro and once captured by government troops. His escape from jail was assisted by NPA rebels sometime in 2005.
He is also responsible for the recent burnings of Globe Telecom towers in the province along with other captured personalities in Silang, Cavite last August this year who was later released from jail.
The 5,000-strong rebels, who have been waging an insurgency for almost 40 years, have escalated their attacks against government forces in recent months to gain badly needed weapons, according to the military.
The rebels often attack small military and police units that are unfamiliar with the terrain.
The military has been intensifying its operations against the guerrillas to meet a 2010 deadline set by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to wipe out the insurgents.
Norwegian-brokered peace talks stalled in 2004 after the rebels accused the government of instigating their inclusion on US and European terrorist blacklists. (BOT/VR/Sunnex)
(November 9, 2008 issue)
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