From the Website of INTERAKSYON
links: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/49757/150-families-flee-fighting-between-npa-and-army-in-north-cotabato
150 families flee fighting between NPA and Army in North Cotabato
By: Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com
December 6, 2012 8:44 AM
December 6, 2012 8:44 AM
Google map showing the location of Magpet, North Cotabato
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE - 9:09 a.m.) More than 150
families have fled their homes in three villages of Magpet town in North
Cotabato where government troops have been battling New People's Army
guerrillas since Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council reported.
Meanwhile, two NPA fighters were killed and another was wounded in a
clash with government troops in the town of Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga
del Norte province Wednesday.
The fighting in Magpet broke out around 11 a.m. December 3 when the
rebels allegedly fired on soldiers and militiamen operating on the
boundaries of Barangays Amabel, Noah and Bagumbayan, killing militia
member Daniel Mahasan.
The firefight caused 154 families to evacuate to their villages’
multi-purpose halls, the NDRRMC said. Local officials have provided
relief goods and security to the evacuees.
In earlier press statement, the Army's 6th Infantry Division said the
discovery of at least six major NPA camps in Magpet prompted the unit
to conduct a series of operations over the past two weeks.
Colonel Prudencio Asto, 6th ID spokesman, said the operations were
guided by information from "concerned civilians who have been fed up
with intimidation and extortion activities of the NPAs in the area."
“The NPAs are now on the run following our capture of their major
camps in Magpet. Months ago, we also discovered several NPA camps in
Makilala and Arakan. The NPAs are rapidly losing popular support from
the people,” Lieutenant Colonel Noel dela Cruz, commander of the 57th
Infantry Battalion, claimed.
In Zamboanga del Norte, Captain Alberto Caber of the 1st ID said
patrolling troops checking on reports of alleged NPA extortion clashed
with 20 rebels in Sitio Napolan. The soldiers seized an M16 rifle.
Police have set up checkpoints to intercept the fleeing rebels.
INTERAKSYON Website
links:
PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
