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Armed Forces Chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano has
ordered his troops to be more vigilant, following the series of
offensive launched by the New People’s Army (NPA) in the provinces
of Abra and Compostela Valley on Saturday.
According to Lt. Col. Ernesto
Torres, Armed Forces information chief, the reported escalation of
offensive by the communist rebels has prompted Yano to give specific
instructions for soldiers to be more prepared, especially in areas
where it is hard to immediately send reinforcements.
Torres also added that the
military chief has instructed troops to maintain close coordination
with other security forces, particularly with the Philippine
National Police.
Communist rebels launched on
Saturday offensives against government detachments in Abra and
Compostela Valley, resulting in the death of three rebels and the
wounding of five from the government’s side.
In Abra, NPA rebels stormed the
paramilitary detachment in Gangal, Sallapadan at around 7 a.m.,
leading to a firefight that lasted until 3 p.m.
The rebels were able run away
with three Garand rifles but no casualties were reported on both
sides.
In Compostela Valley, 30
communist guerrillas attacked a detachment in Nabunturan town and
were able to run off with 14 Garand rifles.
Three of their comrades were
killed in the battle while three militiamen and a soldier were
wounded.
The incidents showed how prepared
the military is, because the soldiers guarding the detachments were
able to defend their area while waiting for reinforcements.
Because of the recent attacks,
military forces in areas that have been attacked by the NPA were
placed on an offensive mode, while soldiers in relatively peaceful
areas remain on a defensive mode.
--Jefferson Antiporda
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