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Southeast Asia

Maoist landmine explosions injure 16 in Mindanao

2014-03-05

Twelve soldiers and four civilians including a Red Cross worker were injured in two landmine explosions thought to have been set off by members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao del Sur province in Mindanao. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Norman Zuniega said the first blast occurred on Sunday morning while the soldiers were patroling a remote village in the town of Bansalan, Davao Del Sur, injuring 12 including two junior officers. The Red Cross worker and the three others injured were aboard an ambulance on their way to aid the 12 soldiers and bring them to the nearest hospital when the terrorists insurgents set off another landmine explosion. “Zuniega said, We condemn to the highest degree the barbaric and brutal act of the NPA, clearly violating human rights and international humanitarian laws." Joining Zuniega in condemning the attack was Brigadier General Sonny Tutaan, the spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who said they would file charges against the NPA for violating international humanitarian laws.

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Southeast Asia

NPA leader surrenders in Mindanao

2014-02-16

A New People’s Army militant commander has surrendered to the Philippine army in Bukidnon province in Northern Mindanao. Adaser dela Mansi, whose group operates in Malaybalay City surrendered to the 403rd Infantry Brigade. He yielded a rifle and ammunition when he surrendered after abandoning his unit. Capt. Alberto Caber, a spokesman for Eastern Mindanao Command, said the militant leader is being interrogated by the army. He said more than 270 militants had surrendered last year in Eastern Mindanao.

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Southeast Asia

Six soldiers wounded in Mindanao clash

2014-02-12

The Philippine military said six soldiers were wounded in clash with communist militants in southern Mindanao. Capt. Alberto Caber said the fighting broke out in Digos City in Davao del Sur province. Caber said several members of the New People’s Army were thought to be killed or wounded in the fighting on Monday afternoon. He said, “We have six soldiers wounded in the battle and there could be more casualties on the enemy side." The militants detonated a roadside bomb while troops were patroling a village, sparking a gun battle. Caber said villagers provided information to the military about the presence of gunmen extorting money from locals. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III condemned the militants' continued use of landmines, saying, the NPA violated an accord that banned the use of landmines. Security forces have launched a follow up operation on Tuesday against the militants who broke into smaller groups and fled to the hills.

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Southeast Asia

NPA militants celebrate anniversary with a cease-fire

2013-12-24

The New People’s Army has declared a unilateral cease-fire in southern Philippines to celebrate the group’s 45th anniversary. The NPA, which is celebrating the anniversary of its founding on December 26, also urged rebel forces to stay vigilant because of possible military attacks. NPA spokesman Rubi del Mundo said the truce will take effect on Christmas eve up to December 26, and from New Year’s eve to January 2, 2014. The order was issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The Philippine military also imposed a unilateral cease-fire on December 21 which ordered troops to suspend all offensive operations. However, Del Mundo accused the military of failing to comply with its own cease-fire and said security forces attacked NPA militants in Davao City and in North Cotabato province.

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Southeast Asia

NPA bomb factory seized in the Philippines

2013-12-14

Philippine security forces have seized what officials described as a major bomb factory of the New People’s Army in Agusan del Sur and hauled away more than 160 landmines. Military spokesman Capt. Alberto Caber said in a telephone interview that the soldiers also found other bomb components in the facility, which was located in a remote area of the municipality of Loreto town on Wednesday. Caber called the seizure one of the military’s biggest accomplishments against communist militants this year. He said the bomb haul was large enough to kill or harm thousands of people or raze a city if detonated at once. He said, “We believe these improvised bombs were being distributed to NPA units in Mindanao and used in committing atrocities against government troops and civilians. So far, this confiscation is the largest, maybe even in the entire country.” Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, Eastmincom commander, said, “This is the biggest NPA landmine factory discovered so far."

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Southeast Asia

Philippine army officer, 4 Maoists killed in Mindanao

2013-12-08

The Philippine military on Saturday reported that a junior army officer and four suspected members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) including two women were killed in separate encounters with government forces in Mindanao. The military said that a lieutenant of the elite Army Special Forces was killed while two of his men were injured in the battle that occurred on Friday in the town of San Agustin, Surigao del Norte. Meanwhile, Captain Albert Caber, a military spokesman, said the two other clashes occurred in the town of Maco, Compostela Valley in which three of the militants, two of them women, were killed. He said, “Residents reported two of the three rebels killed were women,” adding the soldiers later found their bodies concealed in a forested area of the village. During pursuit operations on Friday, government forces killed another militant in an encounter in a separate village in Maco. Found beside the slain rebel was a hand grenade, ammunition for an M16 rifle and printed subversive materials.

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Southeast Asia

Marxist militants kill nine soldiers in Mindanao

2013-10-23

Communist militants killed nine soldiers on Monday in landmine ambushes in Mindanao. The attacks, among the bloodiest by the New People’s Army (NPA) in months, also left five soldiers injured, according to a military statement. The first group of soldiers were on their way to meet pro-government militiamen when they hit a landmine planted by the NPA. Communist militants then opened fire on the soldiers, killing eight of them and leaving one in critical condition. They then took seven of the soldiers’ rifles. Troops rushing to help the first group were hit by another landmine and also ambushed by the militants, killing one more soldier and injuring four others. Colonel Marcos Flores said, “This criminal act of the NPA in using landmines has to stop."

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Southeast Asia

Communist militant killed in southern Philippines

2013-10-02

Philippine troops killed a militant commander and captured another in a clash with the communist group New People’s Army. Captain Raul Villegas said five soldiers were also injured in the fighting that erupted in the village of Aliwagwag. He said troops recovered the automatic rifle of the slain NPA leader who was identified only by his alias Ka Ryan, and also the weapon of the captured militant. Villegas said the soldiers were patroling in the village when it ran into a group of militants and a firefight ensued.

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Southeast Asia

Communist rebels kill Philippine soldier

2013-09-28

New People’s Army militants killed a Philippine soldier in a clash Friday in Compostela Valley province. Local officials said the fighting broke out in Mawab town where communist militants attacked soldiers on patrol. The fighting lasted 10 minutes and it is not known if there were any casualties on the NPA side. Lt. Col. Alexis Bravo said troops were deployed in the area to protect the village from threats of militant attacks. He said villagers sought help from the military following harassment by the NPA. He said, “We preempted the entry of NPAs in that barangay. If not on the timely arrival of our troops, the community may have been attack by the NPAs."

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Southeast Asia

NPA militants kill five in Mindanao

2013-09-26

Communist militants killed one soldier and four pro-government militiamen in an attack at detachment in Misamis Oriental province in the southern Philippines. Officials said New People’s Army militants raided the detachment in the village of Kibanban and killed the five men after overpowering them in the clash. The militants also went house to house and searched for weapons, and tied up the hands of villagers before escaping. Villagers were mourning the deaths, who were actively engaged in peace activities in the town. Kibanban was dubbed as a “Village of Hope” in 2005 being a role model for strong cooperation between the military and the populace in its fight against insurgency. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said, “They died as heroes; the AFP is mandated to protect the people in communities from the threats and intimidation. They have sacrificed much while promoting peace in that barangay." He said the militant group was also responsible for another attack on a construction firm in Compostela Valley province where villagers risked their lives in an effort to prevent the NPA from burning heavy equipment. The militants called for reinforcement after angry villagers threw stones at them. A group of militants arrived and opened fire on the civilians, who managed to escape. The militants were allegedly demanding extortion money from the firm.

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Southeast Asia

Philippine communists storm bandit camp

2013-09-20

Communist militants stormed a bandit camp, killing one gunman and injuring five others in deadly campaign against lawless groups. Ariel Magbanwag, a spokesman for the New People’s Army - South Central Bukidnon Sub-Regional Command, said several militants were also injured in the raid that targeted the dreaded New Indigenous People’s Army for Reform in the town of San Fernando. He said, “The attack was launched in response to the overdue demands for justice of this group’s victims." Magbanwag said the fighting in the village of Dao lasted more than two hours and that the militant forces stopped firing after the bandits seized civilians and used them as shields. He said, “One was killed while five other bandit members were wounded inside their fortified camp in a chain of sporadic firefight which lasted for more than two hours. Surprised by the sudden assault of the revolutionary army, some armed bandits ran and hid among civilians; they returned fire using the gold panners in the area as human shield." Magbanwag also accused the bandit group of being behind the spate of murders and robberies in the region. He said troops are allegedly protecting the bandits, who control gold mining activities in the town. He added, “We assure the victims (of the bandit group) and their families that the future is bursting with many more opportunities. They can hope for justice to be served in due time." Militant forces have previously attacked or punished bandit and paramilitary groups blamed for civilian atrocities in the southern Philippines.

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Southeast Asia

Clash leaves three dead in southern Philippines

2013-08-26

Three people were killed in a clash between communist militants and Philippine security forces in Kiblawan town in Sarangani province. Authorities said New People’s Army militants attacked a military detachment that had killed pro-government militia member Romeo Marila. Pursuing troops clashed with the militants and killed two gunmen who were identified as Anting Peayay and Victor. Colonel Marcos Norman Flores, commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade said, “The pursuit operation was our measure to protect our own forces from further attacks. That detachment has been subject for harassment since early this year. We always abide in any undertakings in the communities in pursuit of peace and we will ensure that those who creates chaos will face the full force of the law."

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