After Tiamzons' arrest soldiers on red alert vs rebels' attacks

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The military in Panay have been put on red alert in anticipation of possible attacks by the NPA rebels, who will be marking their group's founding anniversary on March 29, or in their retaliation of the arrest of their leaders, the couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon.

Brigadier Gen. Arnold Quiapo, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade based at Camp Hernandez in Dingle, Iloilo, said the soldiers have been told "never to let their guards down," especially with the arrests of the Tiamzons.

Quiapo believed the NPA rebels have been hatching terror plans against government and, possibly, civilian personalities and installations, "if only to project they are still a force to reckon with."

The last Saturday clash between the rebels and the soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion was an example of the possibility of an attack from the NPA against the government troops.

At 8:45 p.m. that day, rebels fired at the 61st IB detachment at Tapaz, Capiz, resulting in a 5-minute exchange of gunfire. No casualties or wounded from the government side was reported in that fourth encounter between the two sides in a span of two weeks since.

Major Ray Tiongson, spokesman of the 3rd ID, said at least one rebel was seriously wounded during the incident. "It was a desperate move by the rebels on how to score big against the government but they failed," he added.  (FREEMAN)