KIDAPAWAN CITY – Security forces raided a communist rebel hideout and seized improvised explosives in southern Philippines where insurgents also stormed a trader’s house and confiscated his automatic pistol.
Security officials said members of the 1st Marine Brigade and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency recovered three improvised explosives during an operation Tuesday in the village of Kiponget in Sultan Kudarat’s Palimbang town.
But soldiers failed to capture any members of the New People’s Army in the hideout which is being used by rebel leaders Bobo Fernandez and Ofelia Buanhog, of the Guerrilla Front 73.
Troops managed to locate the hideout after civilians tipped off the military about the place that had been frequented by armed men. Soldiers also seized anti-government propaganda.
“The operation was the result of the sustained focused military operation against the local threat group,” said Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the 6th Infantry Division.
But rebels also struck Tuesday on the other side of the region and raided a house Bobby Calo, whose owns a hardware store and coconut farm in the town of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte province. Calo is also being accused by the NPA of maltreating his employees.
Omar Ibarra, a rebel spokesman, said they confiscated Calo’s automatic pistol and warned him to treat his employees fairly. “His workers had been complaining against his brutal and abusive conduct, such as beating his workers while at the field. Yet, he perpetuated such act. Hence, the Red fighters of NPA-WANAS made this decisive action. The Red fighters seized a Glock-40 from Calo. His long rifle was not confiscated for he kept it in his other place,” said Ibarra.
The NPA has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a separate state. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered troops to destroy the rebel group after government peace talks with the insurgents collapsed. (Mindanao Examiner)
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