As celebration of the Holy Month of Ramadan draws to a close, the military had noted an increase not only in small unit attacks being staged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels but also by the New People’s Army (NPA) based in Mindanao.
On Monday afternoon, about 10 communist guerrillas ambushed Army troops from the 36th Infantry Battalion while conducting security patrol in the vicinity of Barangay Kabungsuan, Lingig, Surigao del Sur.
In the 25-minute of fighting that ensued, a soldier was slightly wounded, Maj. Armand Rico, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said.
Rico said the operating troops seized and disarmed three claymore mines and one anti-tank projectiles abandoned by the rebels.
“Our soldiers are still conducting mine clearing operations in the area,” Rico said.
Since fighting broke out between government troops and the renegade members of the MILF, last month, there have been also a series of military encounters with the NPAs in various parts of Mindanao.
Military intelligence sources are now linking these increase in the insurgents activities’ to their alliance with the MILF renegades in Central Mindanao who are fighting government forces in the provinces of Lanao, Maguindanao and North and South Cotabato.
Except for several fighters who have already linked up with the MILF in Central Mindanao most of the NPAs are based and operate in Northern and Eastern Mindanao.
“We are closely watching the development on the ground especially after Ramadan, because we are also seeing the NPAs coming into the picture when the MILF will be making true their threats to launch massive offensive before the end of this month,” a military intelligence source said.