More than 20 coordinated military actions were mounted by the New People’s Army (NPA)-Bicol across the region on August 19-21. These include the ambush against Philippine National Police operatives in Barangay Alegria, Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate, wherein seven were wounded. Enemy camps in Sorsogon and Legazpi City were also harassed.

Earlier, 33 soldiers were killed while 21 others were wounded in offensives by the NPA-Bicol from March-June this year. Fifteen of those killed and 12 of those wounded are troopers of the 2nd IB who were hit in during a demolition operation conducted by the NPA-Masbate on April 29, June 2 and June 9 in barangays Progreso and Cawayan, San Fernando, and Barangay Malinta, Masbate City.

In the same province, two harassment operations were mounted on May 22 in Barangay Banahao, Dimasalang and in Barangay Casabangan, Pio V. Corpuz. The headquarters of the 2nd IB in Barangay Bacolod, Milagros, and Barangay Armenia, Uson were also harassed on June 10 and 12, respectively. On June 12, NPA also burned down a detachment being constructed by the PNP Special Action Force in Barangay Daraga, Placer, Masbate.

In Camarines Sur, nine troops of the 22nd IB were wounded in an ambush and harassment operation simultaneously conducted by the NPA-West Camarines Sur (Norben Gruta Command) against a military detachment at Sitio Dinumpilan, Barangay Malinao, Libmanan. A soldier and three CAFGU elements were wounded in action. Wounded soldiers who surrendered were given first aid by NPA medics.