COTABATO CITY (Mark Navales / 02 Nov) - Communist insurgents raided Thursday a military detachment after taking hostage dozens of civilians and used them as shield in the southern Philippine province of North Cotabato, a regional army commander said.
Maj. Gen. Ernesto Boac, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, said about 30 members of the New People's Army held dozens of civilians near the farming village of Bituin in Tulunan town and used them as cover to raid the detachment at around 8 a.m.
"Initial reports we gathered said the insurgents took innocent civilians hostage and used them as cover to raid the detachment manned by government militias," the general said by phone from the area.
Boac said the attackers took 21 assorted weapons after overpowering ten militias without firefight. "The NPAs tied the hands of the militias, including the detachment commander and ransack the armory and escaped on foot. They also freed all their hostages," he said.
He said pursuing troops clashed with the raiders later in the day, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
"We are awaiting reports. Our troops clashed with the attackers, but we still don't know if there are any enemy casualties," he said.
The NPA is fighting the government the past three decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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