NPA claims to kill 8 in Bukidnon clashes

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Just as government has laid out its plans to turn over the counter insurgency campaign to police and local government units, the communist rebels have intensified its armed operations. Photo by Erwin MascariÑas

NPA claims to kill 8
in Bukidnon clashes
Army spokesman: ‘Claim is wishful thinking’

By Ren Consul

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The communist New People’s Army operating in Bukidnon claimed to have killed eight Army troopers in two encountersin Quezon, Bukidnon last week.

The spokesperson of the Fourth Infantry Division admitted the encounter with the NPA last June 28 and 29, 2010 but laughed off the casualty claim, saying the communist rebels run away from government troops.

Emil Laguerra, media liaison officer of the North Central Mindanao Regional command of the NPA said that the Boyboy Roa Command of the NPA engaged Army troopers from the 75th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Liing, Brgy. Sto. Domingo in Quezon town in Bukidnon last June 28 and29.

Laguerra said that five Army troopers died when the NPA’s improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on them in the June 28 encounter.

Three more elements of the 75th IB died due to IED explosion in the June 29 encounter, the NPA claimed.

Col. Mitchel Anayron, spokesperson of the 4th ID however laughed off the NPA’s claims.

“Nanaginip yata sila, at any rate hindi naman bawal ang mangarap (They must be daydreaming, at any rate, daydreaming is not prohibited,” Anayron told The Daily Corridor yesterday.

“Well, I advised them to keep telling themselves that, we did not suffer any casualty, instead the NPA (New Peoples Army) ran away,” he added.

“Seven times nagpaputok ng kanyon ang kaaway (the enemy fired their cannons seven times),” Laguera said.

The claims by both sides of the decades-long armed conflict between the communist rebels and the government about the June 28 and 29 clashes however cannot be independently verified.

There were also no reports of civilians caught in the crossfire.

Earlier the 4th ID is planning to turn over the internal security operations to the provincial governments of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental due to the reports that the number of rebel groups are declining.

Anayron earlier said that if there are sightings of rebel groups, it is either they are smaller in number or they came from other front committees outside Northern Mindanao. (PNN)

Truck kills one motorist in Marcos Bridge

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 03:22:00 +0000

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY. Corn kernels are strewn in the Kauswagan end of the Marcos Bridge, after a 10-wheeler truck enroute to Iligan City from Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur bumped a motorcycle yesterday morning, killing one and causing monstrous traffic jam in the Marcos Bridge and Vamenta Blvd. in Kauswagan. Photo by Erwin Mascariñas

Truck kills one motorist

in Marcos Bridge

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A resident of Osmeña Extension in Brgy. 26 this city died on the spot after the motorcycle he was driving was bumped by a 10-wheeler truck loaded with corn in the Kauswagan end of the Marcos bridge.

The fatality was identified as Wilson R. Jo, based on documents recovered by traffic police from the victim’s body.

A 10-wheeler truck from Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur enroute to Iligan City to deliver its load of corn bumped Jo around 11AM near the Kauswagan junction stoplight.

The truck driven by a certain Mawi Namoc did not stop and dragged Jo’s motorcycle some 200 meters away near the gate of RER subd. Phase One.

The truck helper Sonny Sabrido said that Namoc jumped as they were infront of the Macro Superstore gate, prompting him to take over the steering wheels until he maneuvered it to stop.

The corn load of the truck was also unleashed in the road causing a major traffic jam in the Marcos Highway and Vamenta boulevard in Brgy. Kauswagan.

Sabrido said that the truck may have lost its brakes causing it to hit Jo, who was thrown into the sidewalk of the bridge.

Based on the papers of the truck with plate number GFX 768 is owned by a certain Cocoy Llodo of Bayugan City said SPO3 Edgardo Bayron of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA). PNN/ BenCyrus G. Ellorin

Rescue attempt failed

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 03:11:00 +0000

Troops from the 103rd Battalion prepare to rescue Nuraldin Yusoph from his kidnappers in an apartment in Brgy. Daguduban in Marawi City which yielded negative results anyway. Photo by Erwin Mascariñas

Rescue attempt failed

Nuraldin has new handlers

By BenCyrus G. Ellorin

A RESCUE operation Friday afternoon in Marawi City for Nuralden Yusoph did not yield the son of Commission on Election (Comelec) Commissioner Elias Yusoph.

As this developed, officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had confirmed the P25-million ransom demand by the kidnappers and that Nuralden may have been handed over by his kidnappers to another group.

"Nilipat-lipat siya at 'yong may hawak ngayon ay humihingi na ng ransom (He was moved to different places and the group handling him now is asking for ransom)," said Lt. Benjamin Dolorfino, Commanding General of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City.

Quoting a report from 103rd Infantry Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, Dolorfino said the suspects were believed hiding either in Marawi City or in municipalities surrounding it.

Troops and police were immediately sent and surrounded apartment located in Barangay Daguduban in Marawi City Friday afternoon.

They were met by the apartment owner, a certain Abul, who let them enter the apartment.

An hour-long search inside the apartment yielded no son of the Comelec official.

Authorities, however, said that there were indications that the abduction victim was kept there and that the kidnappers escaped taking with them Nuralden.

“May mga indications kasi, like pack of cigarettes… Siguro naiwan lang iyon. Nandoon pa iyong ashtray e, hindi pa natapon… ‘andoon lang on the table,” said Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo, Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade commander.

Ardo admitted that their rescue operations are being hampered by the lack of cooperation by civilians.

He said the latest operation was their sixth attempt.

Ardo said they are now requesting Marawi City Mayor Fahad Pre Salic to activate the crisis management committee to help find the abduction victim especially that investigations point that Nuralden is being kept in the city.

“I just hope na ang mayor natin ng Marawi City ay tumulong,” said Ardo.

According to Ardo, several rescue operations had been conducted in Marawi City and nearby areas following intelligence reports that the victim was being kept in the city.

Ardo said they have difficulty locating the victim due to lack of civilians' cooperation.

Nuralden was taken on June 24 near a mosque in Marawi City and forcibly brought to an undisclosed area outside the city.

Authorities said the kidnappers have communicated with the family and showed "proof of life."

His captors earlier demanded the nullification by Commissioner Yusoph of the results of the

May 10 elections in the towns of Picong, Malabang, Taraka and Masiu. PNN/PNA

NPA claims to kill 8 in Bukidnon clashes