Government troops pursue Surigao Sur rebels

Combined elements of the Army and police are hot on the trail of communist rebels who detonated two landmines in Tago, Surigao del Sur last Monday morning, wounding five of 15 passengers of a jeepney.

Government troops are also pursuing a band of rebels that took two men hostage in Barangay Barobo in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

Lt. Col. Francisco Simbajon, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said about 50 New People’s Army rebels took Ruben Paeste, manager of Bislig Transco, and his driver hostage due to the company’s failure to pay "revolutionary taxes."

The two were released after a few hours, but the rebels took Paeste’s Ford Ranger.

Senior Inspector Elisio Galgao, Tago police chief, said the landmines that went off in Barangay Unidos were intended for patrolling Army soldiers.

Simbajon said the NPA has resorted to victimizing civilians who refuse to give in to their demands.

President Arroyo has ordered an all-out war on the 37-year-old Maoist insurgency.

Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said the military would comply with the President’s directive. — James Mananghaya, Mike Baños and Ben Serrano