Soldiers helping Mayon evacuees ambushed by NPA

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — A soldier was wounded in an ambush staged by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Guinobatan, Albay on Monday.

Personnel of the 83rd Infantry Batallion were on a military truck on their way to Barangay Doña Mercedes in Guinobatan, Albay to evacuate residents after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised Mayon Volcano’s alert level to 4 when they were waylaid.

Pfc. Gilno Canuel was wounded in the exchange of gunfire, which also left several NPA guerrillas wounded, Senior Inspector Malou Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said.

Guinobatan police officers set up a checkpoint along the provincial road in Barangay Tinago following the incident.

“I am appealing to the NPA to help us bring the evacuees to a safe area,” Cedric Daep of the Albay Provincial Security and Emergency Management Office told a press conference yesterday.

The Army’s 9th Infantry Division is helping evacuate residents affected by Mayon Volcano’s eruption.

2 NPA rebels held

In Agusan del Sur, two NPA rebels with pending warrants were arrested in La Paz town on Monday.

Crisanto, 63, and Blim, 25, both surnamed Mondejar, were arrested based on warrants issued by Agusan del Sur Regional Trial Court Branch 6 Judge Kimal Salacop on Nov. 23, 2017.

Chief Superintendent Noli Romana, Caraga police director, said they have intensified their campaign against persons with pending warrants under the Philippine National Police’s  Manhunt Charlie.

‘Pure hogwash’

As this developed, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) turned down President Duterte’s call for them to surrender.

“Duterte’s call for the NPA to surrender in exchange for cash, housing and jobs is pure hogwash,” the CPP said in a statement posted on its website.

The government is intensifying its efforts to entice more rebels to surrender  to make it appear that the NPA is weakening, the statement added. – With Ben Serrano, Artemio Dumlao, Jose Rodel Clapano