Sergeant killed in new NPA attack

Communist rebels continued to launch attacks on government targets in an apparent bid to show they remain a force to reckon with despite the recent capture of their two top leaders by the military in Cebu.

Members of the New People’s Army (NPA), according to police, killed an Army sergeant and wounded two soldiers and two militiamen in an attack on Tuesday in Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur province.

Insp. Filomeno Muñoz Jr., deputy police chief of Prosperidad, said the soldiers were in a truck to fetch water in the remote village of Azpetia in Prosperidad when the rebels attacked.

Muñoz said the rebels were led by a “Ka Iman” supposedly of the NPA’s Front 19A.

Killed was TSgt. Godofredo Baladad while wounded were TSgt. Dante Ramos Buemvenida, Pfc. William Umayam Hatcheles and militiamen Antonio Mabras and Richard Bernales.

Police learned about the attack from a village official who reported hearing gunfire.

Muñoz said a team of policemen rushed to the area and brought the wounded soldiers and militiamen to the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Patin-ay village near the Agusan del Sur capitol.

The attack came days after the capture of spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon. Benito is allegedly Communist Party of the Philippines chief and Wilma is secretary general.

Temporary

Their capture, according to communist leaders in Mindanao, would not stop rebel attacks although one Mindanao NPA spokesperson said it would have an effect.

“The absence of the Tiamzons is only temporary,” said Jorge Madlos, National Democratic Front (NDF) spokesperson in Mindanao.

“Yes, there will be effects to the movement but these are only temporary,” Madlos said.

Rigoberto Sanchez, NPA spokesperson for Southern Mindanao, said the arrests of the Tiamzons would just lead to increased rebel offensives.

He said rebels are “ever resolute to advance the guerrilla war to a higher stage.”

No immunity

Human rights advocates and other communist leaders are calling for the immediate release of the Tiamzon couple, saying they are covered by the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) for rebel leaders involved in peace talks with the government.

Malacañang, however, said the Tiamzons are not covered by immunity.

Silvestre Bello, former peace negotiator, said while the arrests are legal, the couple should be released if “they can show safe conduct passes.”

The NDF released the identification numbers of the Tiamzons as proof that they are covered by immunity but the government claims that they have to be confirmed since the couple were using aliases in their IDs.

Alert

The arrests have put police and military on higher alert in many provinces.

Senior Supt. Michael John Dubria, Davao del Sur police director, said measures are in place in the province to prevent rebel attacks.

“We are anticipating more attacks and we are ready for it,” said Dubria. Chris V. Panganiban and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao