NPA attacks part of CPP anniversary? 6 soldiers hurt in ambush; P100M equipment burned

CEBU, Philippines - Two weeks ahead of its 47th founding anniversary on December 26, the Communist Party of the Philippines through its armed section, the New People’s Army has conducted a series of attacks against the military and the public, according to the Police Regional Office-6.

The PRO-6 said that, at around 3:45 p.m. Sunday, about 10 rebels, using a landmine, ambushed a vehicle of the Capiz Police Provincial Office’s 1st Maneuver Platton at Barangay Tuburan in Maayon town.

The police car driver, Police Officer 1 Manuel Poblador and companion, PO1 Rene Villa, who were on their way to Pontevedra in Capiz, were able to return fire at the rebels and escaped unharmed, but their vehicle was damaged due to the impact of the exploding improvised explosive device (IED).

Five hours after on the same day, about 20 armed rebels burned seven trucks and three backhoes used for a mini-hydro project in Igbaras, Iloilo. The damaged heavy equipment were worth P100 million, the police said.

The NPA bandits barged into the project site of Century Peak at Barangay Passi and the dam site at Barangay Igcabugao, where they hogtied the guards and took away the latter’s shot gun and .38-caliber revolver, after identifying themselves as members of the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front.

The police also reported that, at 3:50 a.m. Monday, the rebels planted an IED at a populated area along the highway of San Joaquin town in Iloilo, resulting in the wounding of six soldiers and a civilian.

Lieutenant Colonel Enriqueto Deocadez Jr, commander of the 82nd Infantry Battalion based in Miag-ao, Iloilo, said his troops were heading to Antique on board two military trucks when around 10 rebels detonated an IED. The soldiers disembarked from the vehicles, returned fire and maneuvered to a vantage position in fighting off the rebels.

The six soldiers suffered minor injuries and were discharged after getting treatment from a hospital in Guimbal town, but the civilian, Bryan Servano, who was hit with IED sharpnel, remained confined there.

Colonel Eric Uchida, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, said the CPP-NPA perpetrated these atrocities in order to step-up their extortion campaign and carry out their criminal activities after failing in their extortion activities.

Uchida said the NPA rebels, by using IEDs, have violated Republic Act 9851 or Philippine Act on Crimes Against Inter-national Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, as their attacks had caused incidental loss of life or injury to civilians.

Brigadier General Reynaldo Mutiangpili, acting commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, while ensuring that the military have remained firm in protecting the civilians, said: “The criminal activities of the CPP-NPA only showed they are not putting primacy to human rights.”

Iloilo Police Provincial Office officer-in-charge, Senior Superintendent Roderick Augustus Alba, has directed all chiefs of police and unit commanders in the province to be vigilant and enhance intelligence gathering on insurgency affected areas here.

PNP Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, who was in Bacolod City, said the recent atrocities perpetrated by the NPA could be part of the CCP anniversary celebration. “It is normal for them that, during their anniversary, they will make noise, attack stations and some facilities.”

Marquez said he directed Chief Supt. Conrado Capa, OIC of the Police Regional Office-18, to secure the installations in Negros Occidental against NPA attacks and coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to make sure that these are properly protected.” —with reports from Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)