NPA stages anniversary attacks

BUTUAN CITY — An estimated 50-armed New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas attacked a military detachment in Barangay Bolho-on, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur early yesterday morning, the 35th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

According to military reports reaching the headquarters of the 401st Infantry Brigade, the communist rebels, headed by Manuel Angob, alias Kumander Salim, fired at the Army detachment in Barangay Bancasi but were repelled by soldiers.

Col. Rogelio Rosete, commanding officer of the 401st Infantry Brigade told The STAR, the rebels also planted land mines as traps in their escape routes near Saking Bridge going to Barangay Jaguimitan anticipating that government troopers would follow.

The ensuing firefight lasted for 45 minutes but no casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, in Sorsogon, NPA rebels shot dead a member of the Civilian Armed Auxilliary in Barcelona town, abducted a barangay captain and divested a policeman of his service firearm in Camarines Sur.

Senior Superintendent Arne de los Santos, Sorsogon police director, identified the victim in Barcelona town as Arnel Fuensalida. He said the victim was walking along with Jesse Espinar and Ruel Joven to their detachment in Barangay Luneta when the gunmen fired from a distance, hitting him in different parts of the body,

About an hour and 40 minutes later, NPA rebels numbering about 20 reportedly flagged down the owner-type jeep of SPO1 Tomas Peñol in Barangay Duran in Balatan town, Camarines Sur. The rebels took Peñol’s 9mm Beretta pistol, two magazines and a hand-held radio. The following day, NPA rebels abducted Barangay captain Nestor Broquiza in Barangay Banga. — With Celso Amo