Communist rebels terrorize towns in Compostela Valley

TAGUM CITY—Communist rebels launched near simultaneous attacks against government troops in several towns in Compostela Valley on Monday, police and army officials said.

The incidents happened in Maco, New Bataan and Mabini municipalities but did not cause any casualties, Senior Superintendent Camilo Cascolan, Compostela Valley police chief, said.

At least 30 New People’s Army rebels conducted a checkpoint along the Nabunturan-Maragusan road in Magangit village, New Bataan town past 5 a.m., and flagged down motorists according to Lieutenant Vilma Mojado of the army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade.

Mojado said the rebels also burned the tires of a packed passenger bus.

“The rebels also tried to lure government troops into a trap by assaulting the Army patrol base in the village. They planted landmines along the troops’ possible route,” she said, adding that the rebels detonated a bomb before taking cover.

At about the same time the incident in New Bataan was unfolding, NPA rebels also strafed the detachment of the 1001st Infantry Brigade in Sitio (sub-village) Quarry, in Mapaang village in Maco town, said Cascolan.

He said another group of NPA gunmen also harassed the outpost of the 72nd IB in Cabuyoan village in Mabini town around 5:30 a.m.

No casualties had been reported in all of the attacks, which the NPA carried out amid an earlier call by their leaders for a halt to military operations in the province, supposedly to speed up the release of P03 Ruben Nojapa, whom the communist insurgents had abducted on March 18.