Victorious NPA offensives:
More widespread, more frequent

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

Tactical offensives of the New People's Army (NPA) are gaining momentum and becoming more extensive. From June 16 to the first week of July, Red fighters carried out successive ambushes, attacks and other military actions against small and isolated troops and detachments of the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and the Citizens' Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).

Most striking were the assault on the 52nd IB camp in Eastern Samar on June 28 and the NPA victory over 60th IB troops in an encounter on June 30 in Compostela Valley, southern Mindanao. On the whole, 33 enemy forces were reported killed while 23 were wounded. The NPA seized 39 firearms and ammunition of various caliber as well as other military equipment.

Compostela Valley. The NPA confiscated an M203, eight M16s, three M14s and a telescope from a platoon of the 60th IB in an encounter at around 1:30 p.m. in Barrio Pansabangan, New Bataan.

Ten soldiers, including their commander 2nd Lt. Peter James Angeles, and three CAFGU elements were killed while five were wounded in the firefight.

According to a report from the Merardo Arce Command, the troops encountered a 36-strong NPA unit. During the exchange of fire, an NPA squad maneuvered to seize the higher ground, thus causing the Red fighters to quickly prevail.

Agusan del Norte. The NPA ambushed and killed a CAFGU element and three members of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) in Lawan-lawan, Las Nieves on June 27.

Eastern Samar. Red fighters skillfully used the element of surprise and the camouflage provided by darkness and strong rain to successfully overpower the patrol base of the 52nd IB's "A" Company in Barangay Cagpili, Oras on June 26. The raid began at 4:30 in the morning and the firefight lasted two hours. Because of the area's remoteness and the difficulty of access, the enemy was unable to send reinforcements immediately.

The NPA seized seven M16s, five M14s, a grenade launcher, nine garands and two carbines. Five soldiers and ten CAFGU members were killed. A soldier's wife was caught in the crossfire. Two others were also wounded. Before retreating, the guerrillas burned down the detachment.

The raid was the second in Eastern Samar within a week. On June 22, the NPA assaulted a police station in the town center of Quinapondan. At the same time, the Red fighters searched through the houses of the police and confiscated an M16, a .45 and a .38 caliber pistol. Insp. Cayetano Gannaban, the municipal police chief, was wounded in the raid.

Abra. A soldier of the 17th IB Special Operations Team was killed and another wounded in an ambush conducted by the NPA Agustin Begnalen Command in Sitio Tapayen, Barangay Alaoa, Tineg on July 2. Together with three guides, the troops were on their way to their command post when the ambush occurred.

Zambales. A soldier from the 24th IB was killed and three others wounded in two separate clashes in San Marcelino, Zambales. A soldier was killed when the NPA assaulted the 24th IB detachment in Barangay Adlao on the night of June 16. Three soldiers were wounded in an ambush by Red fighters in Sitio Itanglew the following day. The soldiers were part of the group sent to reinforce the detachment. The NPA detonated a land mine, hitting the V-150 armored personnel carrier the soldiers were riding. Reggie "Ka Cesar" Espinosa, a worker from San Simon, Pampanga who joined the NPA in 2001, was martyred in the fight. Contrary to the AFP's statement that nine NPA fighters were killed, the other Red fighters were able to retreat safely.

On July 5, five troops of the Regional Special Action Force and the 315th Provincial Mobile Group of the Zambales PNP were sent to hospital with gunshot wounds after encountering an NPA unit in Barangay Maguisguis, Botolan.

Quezon. Six troops of the 59th IB were wounded after attempting to encircle an NPA encampment in Sitio Kinasakitan, Barangay Canaway, General Nakar on June 28. They were hit when the NPA detonated a claymore mine. Two Red fighters heroically laid down their lives in the firefight that lasted for over an hour.

07 July 2003
English Edition

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