PNP: NPA a spent force

The Philippine National Police dismissed anew yesterday the communist New People’s Army rebels as a spent force following fresh NPA attacks on mobile phone relay transmitters.

"They are burning cellular phone sites to increase their collection of extortion money," said Chief Superintendent Roberto Delfin, PNP intelligence director.

Seven NPA guerrillas and an army soldier were killed in a clash in Nueva Ecija last Sunday when troops foiled a rebel attempt to destroy a cell phone transmitter and a hydroelectric plant.

Communist rebels also ambushed on Sunday an Army convoy on the resort island of Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro province. – Christina Mendez