NPA VOWS MORE ATTACKS VS. AFP; DENIES HAND IN COMPOSTELA VALLEY GRENADE BLAST

The communist New People’s Army (NPA) owned up the raid on a town hall in Davao Oriental, but fingered the military in a grenade blast in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley province that killed 3 people and wounded 12 others last week.

“Red fighters of the 3rd Pulang Bagani Company of the Merardo Arce Command-New People’s Army [...]

DAVAO REGION ON RED ALERT AS COMMUNIST REBELS INTENSIFY ATTACKS

NPAs intensify attacks;  3 killed , 14 wounded

By ROGER M. BALANZA

The military and police yesterday hoisted a red alert over Region Eleven as three people were killed and 13 others were wounded in a new wave of attacks by the communist New People’s Army rebels in the region in a span [...]

4 killed, 11 wounded in grenade attack by communist rebels in Southern Philippines

At least four men were killed and 11 others wounded when a grenade exploded on Thursday at a bakery in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said, blaming Maoist-led rebels for the attack.
Hours later, another group of communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas raided a town hall in a nearby province on the [...]

Karapatan slammed for ‘using’ tribal people in propaganda

Tribal leaders in Davao City yesterday scored militant groups using indigenous people to advance causes other than the plight of the lumads.
Datu Ruben Labawan and Datu Martion Dumacan cited the case of several members of the Matigsalog in Compostela Valley who fled to Davao City reportedly to avoid being caught in the [...]

AFP lecture militant groups on peasant leader’s slay

Evidence presented in court and not noisy pickets will solve the killing of a peasant leader shot dead last week in Davao City.
This piece of advise was hurled at a farmers association by the Army 10th Infantry Division, which accused the military as behind the killing of Celso Pojas, former secretary general of the Farmers [...]

AS GOVERNMENT SUFFERS SETBACKS IN ANTI-RED CAMPAIGN

AFP, PNP to send more forces to ComVal
By ROGER M. BALANZA

The police and military are sending additional forces to Compostela Valley province, as communist rebels intensify their attacks on government personnel.
Provincial Police chief Ronald de la Rosa said he has asked Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame for an additional police battalion [...]

TRIBAL LEADER SLAMMED FOR LUMAD RECRUITMENT VS. COMMUNIST REBELS

CHRISTIANS FEAR SEIZURE OF PROPERTY IN ANCESTRAL DOMAIN
A municipal mayor in Compostela Valley wants a tribal leader from Davao City investigated for reportedly organizing indigenous people in the province to rise up against the New People’s Army.
Laac mayor Rey Navarro said he would ask Governor Arturo Uy and the National Commission [...]

NPA, troopers face probe for girls injured in clash

CHR sees human rights violations
By ROGER M. BALANZA

The Commission on Human Rights said there was human rights violations in the wounding of two children in last week’s encounter between the New People’s Army and government troops in Compostela Valley province.
Regional director Alberto Sipaco said both the communist rebels and troopers should answer [...]

Police file raps vs. NPA rebels in Apex mining raid

‘Tax arrears” behind
rebel raid on Apex
New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided the Apex Mining compound in Compostela Valley province last week to punish the company for not paying revolutionary tax, according to a police officer.
Supt. Ronald de la Rosa, police regional director, said police gathered information communist rebels attacked the mining firm after failing to [...]

Biking Mindanao congressman to seek Senate seat in 2010

Tall order for Compostela Valley
Rep. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora
By ROGER M. BALANZA
This congressman who gained national fame by biking his way to Congress and planting tomatoes in an open space at the House of Congress grounds is dreaming big and wants to take a crack at a Senate seat in 2010.
Congressman Manuel “Way [...]