FIGHTING INTENSIFIES IN CARAGA REGION IN NORTHEAST MINDANAO (tags)
?the EPCC NEWS based in Los Angeles reported today that at least a dozen New People?s Army (NPA) rebels and an Army soldier were killed Sunday following fierce clashes between government forces and the rebels in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, a military official said Monday. But Colonel Rodrigo Diapana, commander of the Army?s 402nd Infantry Brigade based in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, admitted that out of the 12 rebels reported killed by soldiers, only four bodies had been recovered so far. Diapana said Sunday?s loss was a major setback for the NPA. On the other some analyst says the NPA also intensified its tactical offensives in response to intesfied AFP/PNP operations in Mindanao despite the NDF-GPH peace talks.
3 soldiers die, 18 hurt in NPA ambush (tags)
Three soldiers were killed while at least 18 others were wounded after New People’s Army rebels ambushed a military convoy in North Cotabato early Monday. Maj. Lyndon Paniza, commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion, said the attack happened at past 5 a.m. in Barangay Ilustre in President Roxas town. He said the soldiers,
AFP attack planes mobilized; 12 killed in NPA-military clashes (tags)
The area command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has mobilized attack planes and gunship helicopters to extend air support to the combat battalions currently pursuing communist insurgents in Compostela Valley province and Davao Oriental. Clashes between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) left four soldiers and eight rebels dead, military officials yesterday said. Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Obaniana, AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command area chief, ordered Maj. Gen. Ernesto Boac, 10th Infantry Division (ID) commander, to use all available combat personnel and military bulldozers to “pin down” the communist rebels.