NPA offensives result in 31 AFP casualties

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Twenty four soldiers were killed when the New People’s Army (NPA)-Negros ambushed a unit of the 62nd IB in April 1 at Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Oriental. On April 9, the NPA bombed the same enemy yunit in Sitio Asaran, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City. Seven soldiers were wounded.

Compostela Valley. The NPA ambushed troopers of the 71st IB in Sitio Bagong Silang, Barangay Teresa, Maco last April 3 at 6:45 a.m. Four soldiers were confirmed killed. Among the wounded was the unit’s commander 1Lt. Serwin E. Matas. Prior to this, three elements of the 66th IB were killed in March 30, 9:30 a.m., in Sityo Dasuran, Barangay Golden Valley in Mabini. After these battles, AFP units relentlessly shelled and bombed the area.

Masbate. Two police personnel were sanctioned in separate partisan operations by the NPA in Barangay TR Yangco, Dimasalang and Barangay Bugang, Pio V. Corpuz. The NPA-Masbate said that the two were active in “counterinsurgency” and anti-people operations. A caliber .45 and 9mm pistol were seized from them.

Samar. Two soldiers were killed after the NPA fired at the 543rd Engineering Construction Battalion along the road connecting ba­rangays San Antonio, Aguinaldo and San Isidro in Las Navas, Northern Samar. The operation was carried out in April 15, at 11:20 a.m. while the soldiers were inspecting a road project under PAMANA.

IN ORIENTAL MINDORO, the NPA arrested Peter Delos Santos, Rocky Bueta and Remando Malupa in Barangay Malu, Bansud in April 5. Using their positions in the village, they arbitrarily arrest civilians suspected of having ties with the revolutionary movement. They also spy on the NPA’s activities in the area. Confiscated from them were a pistol, ammunition and two radios. Delos Santos and Bueta were released while Malupa remains under the NPA’s custody as a prisoner-of-war.

NPA offensives result in 31 AFP casualties