AFP sustains 44 casualties in Visayas

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New People’s Army (NPA) units launched consecutive military actions in Samar, Negros and Panay last January 4-19. Within 16 days, 16 offensives were launched in the Visayas which dealt at least 44 casualties against the Philippine Army.

In other parts of the country, the people’s army continue to carry out offensives.

Neg­ros Ori­en­tal. The NPA simultaneously attacked two Peace and Development Teams of the 302nd Bde in barangays Tacpao and Binobohan in Guihulngan City last January 19 at 4:47 a.m.

The Red fighters raided the PDTs occupying the Tacpao barangay hall and day care center using command-detonated explosives (CDX). This was followed by grenades and rifle grenades from the NPA advance unit. Twelve soldiers were killed in the raid.

Meanwhile, Red fighters fired upon another PDT in barangay Binobohan.

On January 14, 8:40 a.m., Red fighters fired upon a platoon of the 94th IB under Capt. Joshua Lodrigito while the soldiers were traversing the road between sitios Kaningag and Kanlabaw in Barangay Banwage, Guihulngan City. Nine soldiers were killed.
On January 4, the BHB simultaneously fired at an outpost of the 94th IB in Barangay Linantuyan, Guihulngan City and of the 62nd IB in Barangay Sikatuna, Isabela, Negros Occidental. Two enemy casualties were reported.

Neg­ros Occi­den­tal. An element of the 15th IB was killed and another wounded in an NPA offensive in Sitio Pacama, Barangay Magballo, Kabankalan City last January 18. Prior to this, a soldier was wounded in a harassment operation against the Bravo Coy of the 62nd IB in Barangay Hilamonan in the same city last January 11, 7:45 p.m

Wes­tern Sa­mar. Nine soldiers, including three sergeants and tree corporals, sustained wounds when the NPA-Western Samar ambushed the 63rd IB in Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge, Western Samar last January 11, past 4 p.m. Red fighters used a CDX and fired at troops under the command of Lt. Col. Rizaldo Laurena.

In Barangay Concepcion, a soldier was killed and two wounded after the NPA launched harass operations against the 52nd IB camp at midnight on January 19.

Iloi­lo. Two soldiers were wounded in an ambush launched by the NPA against 61st IB and 33rd DRC troopers at Sitio Tigmahan, Barangay Almodias, Miag-ao on January 11, at 8 a.m.

The NPA mounted another ambush on January 13, 11:30 a.m. There were at least four enemy casualties reported. On the same day, at 5:30 a.m., a CAFGU element was wounded in an NPA harassment operation against a 61st IB and CAFGU detachment in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao.

The NPA also fired at soldiers occupying Barangay Malitbog Ilaya, Bingawan on January 13 in the evening, and at 61st IB troopers in Barangay Tigmalapad, Miag-ao on January 16, at 11:30 p.m.

Antique. The NPA carried out harasment operations against a CAFGU detachment in Barangay Osorio 1, San Remegio on January 12 and 13.

NORTHCENTRAL MINDA­NAO. The AFP sustained 11 casualties in two NPA-NCMR offensives in Cabanglasan and Iligan City. On January 10, Red fighters fired at 8th IB-CAFGU elements constructing their camp at Sitio Miaray, Barangay Manggaod. Six enemy troopers and two others were killed and wounded, respectively.

On January 15, an NPA unit harassed troopers of the 51st IB in Barangay Mainit, Iligan City. A soldier was killed and three others were wounded.

Meanwhile, the NPA-Bukidnon paralyzed a boom spray owned by the DOLE Philippines last January 18 at Sitio Kibalang, Lilingayon, Valencia City. DOLE, a company which produces bananas and pineapples, is notorious for destroying the environment and landgrabbing from peasants and Lumads.

NORTHEASTERN MINDA­NAO. The NPA carried out three active defense actions against soldiers of the 4th ID who were combing through upland communities since December 2018.

Agu­san del Sur. On December 23, the NPA detonated an explosive against operating troops of the 26th IB in Sumulon, Barangay Padiay, Sibagat. Another harassment operation was mounted against the 3rd Special Forces Battalion in the hinterlands of San Juan, Bayugan on January 5.

Su­ri­gao del Sur. Red fighters also detonated a bomb against troops of the 36th IB in Manhulayan, Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel on January 7.

SOUTHERN TAGALOG. PO3 Rodelph De Saldajeno, intelligence head of PNP-Rizal, was killed in an NPA partisan operation in Barangay Punta Baja on January 8. Saldajeno was active in organizing Barangay Intelligence Networks against the revolutionary movement.

Successful armed actions in 2018

BICOL. Ka Raymond Buenfuerza, NPA-Bicol spokesperson, reported a total of 101 tactical offensives launched by the NPA in the region in 2018. This resulted in 72 elements of the 9th ID and the PNP killed and another 56 wounded. These offensives include the 15 coordinated offensives mounted across the region on December 17-19, 2018.

On January 19, the NPA fired at the 31st IB camp in Sitio Kabugaan, Barangay San Isidro, Bulan, Sorsogon.

CENTRAL LUZON. Red fighters valiantly fought PNP and AFP fascist elements in the region. According to the NPA-Central Luzon report, no less than 14 soldiers and police were killed while four others were wounded in seven encounters with the NPA from September to November last year in Aurora and Nueva Ecija.

Au­ro­ra. Four 91st IB troopers were killed in NPA counter-attacks on September 2, 2018 in Barangay Villa Aurora and on November 14 in Barangay Decoliat, both in the town of Maria. Two Red fighters, Gerald “Ka Mat” Salonga and Noli Boy “Ka Nomer” Ronquillo, were martyred during the September 2 encounter.

On October 6, 2018, the NPA ambushed troopers of the 1st Aurora Provincial Mobile Force Company aboard a vehicle in Sitio Dicong, Barangay Villa Aurora. No less than three police personnel were killed. On November 12, at Sitio Boundary in the same barangay, Red fighters carried out harassment operations against a 91st IB camp. Two soldiers were killed while three others were wounded.

Nueva Ecija. Five 84th IB troopers were killed in successive counter-attacks by the NPA in Pantabangan. The armed actions were carried out in barangays Malbang on November 1 and in Masiway on November 8. Another soldier was wounded during a harassment operation mounted by Red fighters against an enemy camp at Sitio Baong, Barangay Labi, Bongabon on September 17, 2018.

The NPA-Zambales also reported that it paralyzed two backhoes that were used in constructing the Capas-Botolan Road on June 23, 2018. Residents in the area were thankful as the said project is being used for landgrabbing.

AFP sustains 44 casualties in Visayas