links: http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2012/06/3-npa-anti-mining-raids-in-comval.html
3 NPA anti-mining raids in ComVal yields 25 firearms, 5 AFP casualties
Rigoberto F. SanchezMerardo Arce Command, NPA-Southern Mindanao
11 June 2012
Three companies of Red fighters under the Merardo Arce Command-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command-New People’s Army (NPA) staged three coordinated raids against two big mining firms and a milling plant in Compostela Valley, June 8. The anti-large-scale mining firm NPA offensive in Maragusan, Nabunturan and New Bataan towns damaged four heavy equipments, 10 generator sets and disarmed from the armed goons three high-powered rifles, 22 short firearms and two shotguns. The NPA also held captive for four hours a police officer; SPO1 Charlito Alcuezar was later released to a barangay official in Nabunturan.
A day after the successful raid, the NPA thwarted a reinforcement from the AFP’s 71st Infantry Battalion, releasing a command-detonated anti-tank explosive in Mawab town, damaging a 6x6 military vehicle and wounding five fascist troops.
The June 8 NPA offensive in Compostela Valley was part of the continuing campaign against destructive large-scale mining companies in the region. The NPA upholds the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) standing policy against foreign big mining firms, the operations of which have damaged the environment and dislocated peasants and indigenous peoples.
On June 8 at 9 PM, NPA platoons targeted the Philco Mining in Barangay Camanlangan, New Bataan and burned a bulldozer, a boom truck, a backhoe, a generator truck drill and 10 generator sets. Canadian-owned Philco Mining has an existing exploration permit of the gold and copper mining operations covering 2,139.44 hectares in New Bataan.
In Barangay Pamintaran, Maragusan town, separate NPA platoons raided the milling plant owned by the Uys covering the mining claim of Milagrosa-Oz Minerals covering Barangay Saranga and Pamintaran gold areas. Confiscated from Uy’s private army were 10 short firearms, one shotgun and six VHF handheld radios.
In Barangay Mainit, Nabunturan, another NPA platoon hit the milling plant owned by the Uys. Disarmed from the armed goons were two baby armalite, one M14 rifle, 10 .45 caliber pistol, one Kg machine pistol, one ingram machine pistol and one shotgun. Prisoner of War SPO1 Alcuezar from the DCPO Sta. Ana was released at 1 AM, June 9 at Sitio Inupuan, Barangay Mainit.
On June 9 at 6 AM, the NPAs ambushed three military convoy of the 71st IB-AFP in Barangay Nueva, Mawab. The notorious pro-mining military troops later held a road blockade for three hours.
Destructive large-scale mining operations in Compostela Valley hinterlands have resulted in grave landslides and other calamities in the recent years. Accompanying these operations is a spate of human rights violations as a result of military operations under the Oplan Bantay Laya. Despite this, the US-Aquino regime encourages the billion dollar gold and copper exploitation in the country with a deceptively revised but basically the same pro-imperialist and anti-people mining policy.
Mining firms in the region and their uniformed coddlers in the 10th Infantry Division-Eastern Mindanao Command of the AFP can expect more escalated and coordinated raids and ambuscades by the NPA to defend the interest of the people and the national patrimony.
PRWC Websites
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
----------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
----------------------
