5 dead, 7 hurt in reb clashes

PAGADIAN CITY — Five people were killed and seven others wounded in clashes between communist guerrillas and government forces in Misamis Occidental and Albay, the military said yesterday.

Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were slain and four wounded in a 30-minute firefight with soldiers of the Army’s 5th Infantry Battalion in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental early yesterday, said Lt. Col. Renoir Pascua, spokesman of the military’s Southern Command.

Soldiers also arrested a local NPA leader and four of his men, Pascua said.

The other day, an NPA member and a government militiaman were slain and three other militia members were wounded in a clash near the Albay town of Polangui, the military said.

Soldiers of the Army’s 22nd Infantry Battalion were on patrol in the village of Danao when they ran into the guerrillas.

An NPA spokesman earlier said they planned "surprise attacks" during the visit of US President George W. Bush on Oct. 18.

Lt. Col. Preme Monta, information officer of the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command, said their units are prepared for any NPA offensive.

The United States has labeled the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA, its 9,000-strong armed wing, as terrorist organizations. The CPP-NPA has been waging a Maoist rebellion for 34 years.

President Arroyo suspended peace talks with the rebels in 2001 after the NPA assassinated two legislators. — Roel Pareño, James Mananghaya and wire reports