NPA owns up attack in Davao
By Al Jacinto
The Manila Times
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
ZAMBOANGA CITY: New People’s Army (NPA) communist rebels took responsibility Tuesday the killing of six government soldiers in an attack in southern Philippines.
A rebel spokesman Dyomabuk Kadyawan, of the NPA’s Antonio Nerio Antao Command, said the attackers also seized an M16 rifle from the soldiers. Three more soldiers were wounded in the weekend attack in the village of Mahan-ob in Davao Oriental’s Baganga town.
He said the attack sparked a firefight that lasted more than an hour. “The guerilla offensive lasted for at least an hour. Six enemy troops were killed in action while three were wounded. The NPA sustained no casualties. The Red Army recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle.
Kadyawan said the military bragged about its victory in setting up the so-called Barangay Defense System (BDS), which proved vulnerable to rebel attack.
“The guerilla action is a slap on the enemy’s face who just recently declared that Baganga in Davao Oriental is said to be NPA-free,” he added.
The attack occurred on the eve of the NPA’s 41st anniversary and even after authorities heightened security in areas where rebels are actively operating.
Last week, rebels raided a fruit plantation in the village of Guinhalinan in Surigao del Sur’s Barobo town and destroyed four excavators and two bulldozers owned by a sub-contractor of DOLE Philippines Inc.
NPA forces also attacked a military detachment in the village of Luz in North Cotabato’s Mlang town and killed a government militia and wounded two more before ransacking an army detachment and seized 35 assorted high powered weapons.
But the military downplayed the attacks and branded them as terrorism.
“For more than four decades now, the New People’s Army celebrates its anniversary founded on greed rationalized by the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist creed. No wonder why the lowly NPA rebels in the mountains are fighting a losing war to satisfy the whims and caprices of their leaders who have been enriching only themselves and their families; to the detriment of the NPA rank-and-file, all in the guise of fighting a legitimate cause,” said Col. Daniel Lucero, assistant chief of staff for Civil-Military Operations of the Philippine Army.
He said the NPA is synonymous to violence and an enemy of Philippine democratic ideals.
“It is ironic to see the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front still electing to adhere to a system long outdated by evolution and modernity. Other than being a money-making extortion business with an objective aimed at advancing the personal and political ambitions of its leaders, the agenda of the CPP-NPA-NDF are quite dubious,” he added.
Operational lapses caused 11 deaths: AFP
By Victor Reyes
Malaya – www.malaya.com.ph
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
ARMY investigators have established that "operational lapses" led to a clash with New People’s Army insurgents in Mansalay town in Oriental Mindoro early this month.
The clash left 11 soldiers dead and seven injured. The military also lost 19 high-powered firearms to the NPA.
The Army’s Board of Inquiry recommended the discharge of four enlisted personnel who were among the 11 survivors in the operation, and the relief of Lt. Col. Randy Sinocruz as commander of the 4th Infantry Battalion.
Sinocruz is being faulted for failing to provide close supervision over the troops involved. He will be replaced by Col. Johnny Macanas.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu had also ordered the relief of the company commander, 1Lt. Romel Toriado, apparently also for lapses, said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres.
On March 6, a platoon from the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company conducted combat operations against a group of about 50 rebels encamped in Panaytayan village.
Officials have said the soldiers were caught by surprise by the rebels.
A subsequent investigation was pursued by the Army due to the number of deaths and firearms lost, the most in recent years in a single encounter with the insurgents.
The investigation was headed by Brig. Gen. Rolito Abad, the Army’s inspector general.
"The BOI...found that there were indeed some operational lapses on the part of the operating troops, led by 1Lt. Ronnie Sipsip (who was among those killed) and on the part of Lt. Col. Sinocruz, commander of the 4th Infantry Battalion," Torres said.
"The troops failed to accurately assess the indicators of an enemy offensive, like the presence of the three suspicious persons at the encounter site who were flashing on and off their flashlights prior to the incident and pretending to be looking for their carabao," he said.
Torres said there was also "lack of close supervision and control" on the part of Sinocruz "over the personnel of the operating troops involved in the battalion-initiated combat operation, particularly during the planning phase."
However, the investigators found no reason to punish Col. Carlos Quita, commander of the 203rd Brigade.
"There were no operational lapses that he (Quita) committed in relation to the ambush incident," said Torres. "As the most senior commander in the area, Colonel Quita acted accordingly on the situation on the ground."
The four recommended for discharge were Pfc. Guerero dela Cruz, Pfc. Glenn Guibone, Pfc. Obar Ercilla, and Pvt. Juralph Culili.
"The BOI recommended the discharge of the four survivors who remained in the engagement area during and immediately after the ambush incident for violation of Articles of War 76 (misbehavior before enemy) and 97 for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline," said Torres.
As to the seven other survivors, further investigation was recommended. Torres said the seven "were able to immediately withdraw from the ambush incident."
In Laguna, two soldiers died in an ambush staged by suspected NPA member in Burdeos town Monday, the NPA’s 41st founding anniversary.
Fatalities S/Sgt. Isidro Cruz and Pfc. Romel Gemale were both detailed with the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.
Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, assistant chief for civil military operations of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the two were aboard a motorcycle when they were fired upon by four to seven suspects in Aluyon village at 2:30 p.m. The two, in mufti and unarmed, came from a detachment in the same village and were on their way to the market in the town proper when attacked.
Detoyato said they have not actually determined the ground affiliation of the suspects "but we suspect it’s the NPAs."
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