Govt-Rebel Clashes in Bikol Mar Approach of Campaign Period

CASTILLA, Sorsogon, Feb. 4 -- Bloody encounters between government troops and communist guerrillas in Bikol marred the approach of the campaign period among bets for national posts in the coming May 10, 2010 polls.

The 90-day campaign period for national bets starts on Feb. 9 and "the communist terrorists are indeed all out in their extortion activities termed as permit-to-campaign and permit-to-win fees from candidates both in the national and local positions that is why they have been making their presence felt in most parts of the region," Col. Joselito Bernardo, commanding officer of the PA's 903rd Infantry Brigade based in Castilla, Sorsogon said.

"We won't let up in pursuing them as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is determined in curtailing these terroristic activities and eventually put an end to insurgency by the middle of this year or before the end of the term of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," Bernardo said.

The latest of these encounters took place last Friday when suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that has been waging war to topple the government rebels for the past four decades, planted a landmine along the road in Brgy. Lalaguna, Mobo, Masbate that wounded four PA troopers, Bernardo said.

On board a military vehicle, the soldiers were on their way to the Masbate City port from their base when their vehicle hit a landmine.

In another incident, a belated report released by Bernardo's command said two NPA rebels and a militiaman were killed in an encounter in Brgy. Banuang Gurang, Donsol, Sorsogon last Jan. 17.

The report identified the slain militiaman as Enrique Sicad while identities of the NPA guerrillas killed were not immediately known.

Another NPA rebel identified as Rolly Jorojoro of Brgy. Tinuldukan, Jovellar, Albay was wounded and captured by government troops, the report said.

A soldier identified only as SSgt. Escano and a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) volunteer identified as a certain De la Cerna were wounded in the clash.

The three government operatives belonging to the PA's Alpha Company of the 22nd Infantry Battalion based in Donsol town were on board a motorcycle when ambushed by about seven NPA rebels that resulted in a brief exchange of gunfire, the report said.

Recovered from the encounter scene were an M-16 armalite rifle, two rifle grenades, a hand grenade and seven magazines for M16 loaded with ammunition, the report added. (PNA)

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