News
17 soldiers dead in Negros ambush
Seventeen soldiers were killed and six were wounded in an ambush by New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas on August 21 in Sitio Bulod, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental. They were among 28 soldiers aboard a truck who were sent as reinforcement troops in pursuit operations against the NPA.
The soldiers who were under the 303rd Brigade of the Philippine Army belonged to a composite team from the 11th and 61st IBs based in central and southern Negros that have been accused by the masses of committing human rights violations.
16 HPRs seized in Cotabato raid
Two M14s, 11 Garands, three M16s, a radio communication set, ammunition and military uniforms were seized by NPA Red fighters without firing a single shot in a raid on a detachment of the 64th IB in Danlag, Tampakan, South Cotabato on August 20. The NPA burned down the detachment.
Prior to this, the NPA raided a ranch in the mountains of Koronadal, South Cotabato on August 15. The NPA entered the Sueno Ranch in Sitio Kupon, Barangay San Jose at around 6 a.m. Seized from the ranch were assorted weapons and communications equipment. The raid was a punitive measure taken after the ranch owner refused to recognize the movement's policies on taxation.
Battalion commander killed in Agusan ambush
A Philippine Army battalion commander was killed and three of his men were wounded when their jeep was ambushed by NPA Red fighters in Barangay San Andres, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur at around noon on August 14.
Killed was Maj. Nestor Velasco, commanding officer of the 62nd IB based in Trento town. Seized from the tactical offensive were seven high-powered firearms: an M203, two M14s and four M16s. A VHF radio was also confiscated.
12 firearms seized in Laguna raid
Twelve firearms and other military equipment were seized in a raid launched by NPA guerrillas on the police station in Sta. Maria, Laguna on August 7. Wounded in the raid was Sta. Maria police chief S/Insp. Benito Mozo. Among those confiscated were four M16s, four .45s, three .38s, a radio transceiver, a camera and important documents.
Eight policemen killed in Mindoro ambush
Eight policemen were killed and three were wounded in an ambush by NPA Red fighters in Barangay Antonino, Victoria, Oriental Mindoro on July 4. Among those wounded was Victoria P/Chief Insp. William Destura. Killed was deputy police chief SPO4 Wilfred Feliciano.
The ambushed troopers were from the Victoria police force and the newly assigned PNP Special Action Force in Oriental Mindoro that replaced the notorious 49th IB.
A land mine set off against the troopers' two vehicles signalled the start of the tactical offensive. The NPA confiscated the policemen's weapons before safely retreating.
PNP station raided in Zambales
NPA guerrillas raided the police station in Palauig, Zambales on July 21 at around 7:30 p.m. Thirty weapons of various caliber were seized in the offensive. Three policemen were wounded in the firefight.
NPA punishes spy cop in Albay
New People's Army Red fighters punished SPO3 Rogelio Oliquiano, intelligence officer of the Philippine National Police Regional Intelligence Group, on August 26 in Barangay Palapas, Ligao, Albay. Oliquiano was aboard a motorcycle and had just gathered information from his assets in Pioduran town when ambushed by the Red fighters. Seized from him was a 9 mm pistol.
Police official killed in Bohol fighting
Insp. Victor Hibaya, commander of the Bohol PNP Provincial Mobile Group, was killed in a firefight in Barangay Overland, Buenavista, Bohol on June 21. Hibaya was leading an eight-man team that encircled a group of NPA fighters in the barangay. The NPA safely retreated without suffering a single casualty.
Construction company in Aurora punished
Punitive action was taken by the NPA on a construction company in Dinalungan, Aurora on July 6.
The NPA flagged down two dump trucks of the SMC Construction Corp. and burned them down after the owner ignored the revolutionary movement's taxation policies.
Oplan Makabayan condemned in Quezon
Some 1,000 peasants, fisherfolk and Dumagat tribespeople camped out in front of the Quezon provincial capitol in Lucena City on July 10. The eight-day protest action was led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
The protesters assailed the continued and unbridled military operations under Oplan Makabayan being waged by the AFP in the Sierra Madre mountains that have wrought grave violations of their human rights, including their forcible evacuation.
Transport groups successfully launch series of strikes
Drivers and their supporters successfully launched a series of transport strikes in various parts of the country in July and August to oppose the endless rounds of oil price increases and demand a P125-raise in the minimum wage.
On August 7, a nationwide coordinated protest action led by the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) was successfully launched. They strikers also demanded a P1-increase in fares.
In Mindanao, public transport was paralyzed in Koronadal, Davao, Kidapawan, Tagum, Digos, Mati and Northern Mindanao while bus companies suspended operations in South Cotabato, Saranggani and General Santos City. In the Visayas, transportation was 99% paralyzed in Iloilo and 90% in Bacolod in a two-day strike while bus and jeepney drivers picketed oil depots in Mandaue and Lapu-lapu. In Luzon, drivers from Bicol (Albay and Sorsogon), Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Metro Manila also joined the strike.
It was the second such strike in two months. Earlier, PISTON had led on July 10 a massive drivers' and workers' strike. The strike paralyzed major jeepney routes in Metro Manila (90%), Bulacan (100%), Cavite (80%), Tarlac (95%), Pampanga (90%), Bataan (70%), Nueva Ecija (40%), Cebu and Negros (90%). KMU and BAYAN also supported the protest action with 12,000 of their members massing up in front of the offices of Caltex, Petron and Shell.
In Davao City, 8,000 drivers waged a strike on July 17. The strike led by the Transport of Southern Mindanao for Solidarity, Independence and Nationalism and the Alliance of Operators and Drivers in Davao City and supported by BAYAN paralyzed 90% of public transport in the area.
Meanwhile, Estrada's State of the Nation Address on July 24 was also met with a two-day drivers' strike in Kalibo, Aklan. Members of the Bus and Jeepney Operators Association, various other tricycle drivers' and operators' groups, BAYAN and the League of Filipino Students joined the mass action.
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