Army foils NPA attack in NCotabato

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Army combatants foiled Thursday an attempt by communist rebels to harass a militia detachment in a secluded district in North Cotabato’s Antipas town.

Members of the Army’s elite Special Forces and operatives of the 602nd Brigade managed to drive the rebels away after a 45-minute running firefight, before they could reach a detachment of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Barangay Malire in Antipas.

The military learned of the plan by the New People’s Army to take over the detachment from farmers who saw the rebels marching toward Barangay Malire from the hinterland border of North Cotabato and Bukidnon.

Col. Ademar Tomaro, commanding officer of the 602nd Brigade, said the encounter waned only after the rebels ran out of ammunition and scampered, leaving behind two assault rifles, assorted ammunition and two improvised explosive devices ready for use.

Barangay officials have confirmed seeing the fleeing rebels carry five wounded companions, mostly adolescents, but Tomaro said they have no confirmation yet on the actual count of NPAs wounded in the ensuing encounter.

Text messages have been circulating since Thursday night, identifying three of the five wounded young NPA rebels as Jose Mansan, a certain Erick and another one named Benjie.

Local officials also reported seeing stains of blood on the rebels' escape route.