AFP on red alert vs NPA attacks in Compostela Valley

Manila, Philippines -  The military has placed its troops in Compostela Valley province on red alert following recent attacks by communist insurgents.

The leadership of the 10th  Infantry Division (ID) declared that all troops must report to their duties, including those who are on leave.

“All our units are on red alert since Friday night. Based on our experience, the rebels usually timed their attacks each time Pacquiao has a fight. They don’t like the peace whenever Pacquiao has a fight,” Col. Lyndon Panesa, spokesman for the 10th ID said.

Panesa said soldiers could not even watch the fight between Pacquiao and American Thomas Bradley. “We will just watch the replay of the fight or read about what happened in the fight in tomorrow’s newspapers,” he said.

An undetermined number of rebels swooped down on PHILCO Mining Company in Sitio Tagpura, Barangay Camanalangan in New Bataan and burned two back hoes, two Isuzu elf trucks and a driller at around 8 p.m. last Friday.

The insurgents also torched a Nissan Terrano along the national highway in Sitio Inupuan, Barangay Mainit in Nabunturan.

At around 1 a.m. yesterday, the rebels also raided Milagrosa Mining in Barangay Saranga in Maragusan and disarmed the security guards.

The rebels then commandeered two trucks owned by the mining firm, which they used as getaway vehicles. They also tried to blow an Army vehicle loaded with pursuing soldiers at around 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Nueva Visayas.

“No one was injured in the attack,” Panesa said, adding that rebels fired at the soldiers but fled after a brief firefight.