15 NPA rebels die in Compostela clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Fifteen communist guerrillas were believed killed in Compostela Valley in a major clash with government forces last Friday, an Army commander said.

Three soldiers were injured in the fighting which broke out in Cateel town as troops encircled a rebel band that had torched telecommunications relay stations in Compostela Valley last Nov. 12, Col. Felipe Berroya said.

As his troops battled about 150 guerrillas of the New People’s Army (NPA), Berroya said he sent helicopter gunships to pound the rebel positions.

"So far, this is the biggest encounter with rebels here in years," said Berroya, adding that his forces were still pursuing the NPA.

The communists recently targeted telecommunications stations in retaliation for the refusal of the owners of the stations to pay "revolutionary taxes."

They torched the facilities of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Dole Phils., Philippine Communications Inc. and Liberty Communications in Mawab, Compostela Valley.

Days earlier, the rebels burned down six cell sites of mobile telephone carriers Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Pilipino Telephone Corp. in Central Luzon and the Ilocos region.

The government recently warned that the NPA, the armed wing of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines, is increasing in size as the military has been preoccupied with Muslim separatism elsewhere in the country.

Peace talks between the communists and the government were suspended after the rebels assassinated two legislators earlier this year. — Roel Pareño