Security forces alerted in Mindanao

Army soldiers and policemen man a check point near Esteros Bridge in Cotabato City and Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province Thursday, July 09, 2009. Four people were killed and dozens injured in a recent bomb attack outside a Catholic church in Cotabato City. Authorities blame the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya and Moro rebels for the blast. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 9, 2009) - Philippine security forces were alerted Thursday for more terror attacks in the troubled region of Mindanao following the spate of bombings that killed at least 6 people and wounded dozens more.

Soldiers and policemen were deployed in many areas in the Muslim autonomous region and other parts of Mindanao to thwart possible attacks by terrorists.

Cotabato and Iligan cities were bombed this week and authorities blamed Moro rebels and the Indonesian terror group Jemaah Islamiya for the attacks.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels denied any involvement in the series of bomb attacks in the troubled South and called for an independent investigation into the blasts.

The MILF blamed the military for the attacks, saying, it was part of a government plot to justify the possible declaration of a state of emergency by President Gloria Arroyo.

In Manila, Army Major General Jogy Fojas said they have received reports that MILF rebels, the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya are in the Philippine capital and were planning to carry out bombings in civilian areas and military camps.

Fojas' statement was denied by the Philippine police and militant groups branded the report as a prelude to more attacks by soldiers and blamed them to the rebels. (Mindanao Examiner)

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)