Troops Capture NPA Camps In South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 16, 2008) – Six jungle bases of communist rebels have been captured by government troops in a campaign that began last week in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said soldiers captured the rebel bases one after the other in the mountains of Compostela Valley province and recovered explosives and munitions left behind by the New People’s Army (NPA), which is fighting the past four decade for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

“The explosives and other paraphernalia were believed to be used for the major investment sites in the areas of Compostela Valley to continually create an atmosphere of terror for those who refute the NPa’s extortion activities,” said Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

Last month, NPA rebels raided the Apex Mining Company as a punishment for the firm's failure to pay so-called "revolutionary" taxes and for environment destruction.

The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), also executed a militia leader, Nelson Sam-o, in a raid March 28 in Compostela Valley. Sam-o was also the village chieftain of San Jose, a hamlet in Monkayo town.

Rebel forces also raided several government detachments manned by militias in the province the past months and warned of more attacks on government and military targets.

Fojas said the attacks were intended to divert military operations. “It is very evident that the series of hostile actions against our CAFGU patrol bases the past days, such as attacks, sniping, harassment, among others, are intended to divert the operation of our troops away from the main encampments of the NPA.

He said the presence of the camps and rebels in the province have forced many civilians to flee their homes for fear they would be harmed or killed by the NPA if they fail to pay illegal taxation.

“The presence of NPA camps in Compostela Valley area is the main reason of the usual evacuation of the civilians and not by the presence of military. The CPP, the NPA and their fronts are perverting the issues instead to mask their actual existence.”

“The CPP’s united fronts or these so-called human rights advocates only proved their support and alliance with the NPA as they always demand for the pull out of operating troops in the area to allow the NPA extortionist and bandits freely roam around the area,” Fojas said.

He said troops will continue their offensives against the NPA “without let-up.”
Last month, the CPP ordered NPA to intensify attacks as part of its new offensive, whose main purpose it said, is to seize weapons and increase the number of rebel forces in the country.

The CPP broke off peace talks with Manila in 2004 after the United States listed the communist groups as foreign terrorist organizations and froze their assets abroad on government's prodding. (Mindanao Examiner)