ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 21 Jan) Suspected New People's Army rebels killed a government soldier and two militiamen after attacking them inside a passenger jeep in North Cotabato province in Mindanao, officials said Saturday.
A civilian passenger and a militiaman were also wounded when rebels opened fire on their targets Friday near the village of Bagsak in the town of Magpet, Mayor Efren Pinol said. "This is terrible. The rebels have no regards to human life and safety of the civilians," he said.
Pinol said civilians were helping authorities by providing intelligence about the NPA in the town. "The public is aware of the NPA atrocities and civilians continue to help the authorities by giving information about the rebels," he said.
The soldier and his companions just came from the market and on their way to an army detachment when the rebels who posed as passengers shot them with automatic pistols. The rebels, about six of them, took three rifles from their victims and then fled on foot, the military said.
"The soldier and two militiamen were killed and we condemned the killing. Troops are tracking down the attackers believed members of an NPA hit squad Sparrow Unit," said Maj. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division.
Dema-ala suspects the attack was connected to the capture late last month of NPA chieftain Roberto Moneba in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato.
"The attack could be connected to Moneba's capture, but we will not be cowed by NPA attacks because we know the people are strongly supporting us," he said.
Authorities said Moneba, the secretary general of the rebel's Front Committee 74, masterminded a bomb attack on a military medical mission in North Cotabato that left 3 soldiers dead and 11 others wounded. It said the rebels detonated a landmine planted on a road where the truck transporting the soldiers exploded.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF), is fighting the past three decades to topple the government and install a Maoist state in the country.
Peace talks between the government and communist rebels were suspended in 2004 following the pullout of the National Democratic Front (NDF) from the talks due to its inclusion in the terror lists of the United States and the European Union.
A civilian passenger and a militiaman were also wounded when rebels opened fire on their targets Friday near the village of Bagsak in the town of Magpet, Mayor Efren Pinol said. "This is terrible. The rebels have no regards to human life and safety of the civilians," he said.
Pinol said civilians were helping authorities by providing intelligence about the NPA in the town. "The public is aware of the NPA atrocities and civilians continue to help the authorities by giving information about the rebels," he said.
The soldier and his companions just came from the market and on their way to an army detachment when the rebels who posed as passengers shot them with automatic pistols. The rebels, about six of them, took three rifles from their victims and then fled on foot, the military said.
"The soldier and two militiamen were killed and we condemned the killing. Troops are tracking down the attackers believed members of an NPA hit squad Sparrow Unit," said Maj. Gen. Agustin Dema-ala, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division.
Dema-ala suspects the attack was connected to the capture late last month of NPA chieftain Roberto Moneba in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato.
"The attack could be connected to Moneba's capture, but we will not be cowed by NPA attacks because we know the people are strongly supporting us," he said.
Authorities said Moneba, the secretary general of the rebel's Front Committee 74, masterminded a bomb attack on a military medical mission in North Cotabato that left 3 soldiers dead and 11 others wounded. It said the rebels detonated a landmine planted on a road where the truck transporting the soldiers exploded.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF), is fighting the past three decades to topple the government and install a Maoist state in the country.
Peace talks between the government and communist rebels were suspended in 2004 following the pullout of the National Democratic Front (NDF) from the talks due to its inclusion in the terror lists of the United States and the European Union.
Rebel leaders insisted that President Gloria Arroyo asks the United States and the European Union to strike them off from the terror lists.
The rebels have vowed to step up attacks on government targets after Manila suspended safety and immunity guarantee for its negotiators following the collapse of the peace talks.
The rebels have vowed to step up attacks on government targets after Manila suspended safety and immunity guarantee for its negotiators following the collapse of the peace talks.
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