Monday, August 17, 2009

Troops recover army, police uniforms used by rebels in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 17, 2009) – Government troops have recovered military and police uniforms believed used by communist rebels in their operations in the southern Philippines, officials said on Monday.

Officials said soldiers recovered two dozen pairs of camouflage and police uniforms, three pair of combat boots and a megaphone in the village of Casoon in Compostela Valley’s Monkayo town over the weekend.

Captain Rosa Maria Cristina Manuel, a spokeswoman for the 10th Infantry Division, said villages tipped off the military about the uniforms left by New People’s Army rebels.

She said rebels often use army and police uniform to disguise themselves and raid military and police posts in the southern Philippines.

“They use these military and police uniform to disguise them selves as soldiers and policemen and to be able to conduct terrorist activities,” Manuel told the Mindanao Examiner.

She said troops were sent to the town to track down rebel forces, blamed for the spate of attacks in the province in recent months.

The NPA is fighting the past four decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Geo Solmerano)

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