The Manila Times

Tuesday, July 13, 2004


Army troopers rescue 100 workers
hostaged by lawless elements in Apayao

By Karl B. Kaufman, Reporter

A LOCAL group of lawless elements held hostage at least 100 employees of a furniture firm and engaged Army troopers in an 18-hour standoff in Apayao province on Friday.

A subsequent rescue operation by the Army’s 5th Infantry Division resulted in the death of one hostage and the wounding of another one. Two hostage-takers were also reported wounded in the firefight.

Col. Hilario Atendido, chief of staff of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, confirmed the incident, saying it started around 9 p.m. Friday and ended 3 p.m. Saturday in Sitio Mangasit, Salvacion village in Luna town.

Killed during the rescue operation was Junior Quiñones. Atendido said the fatality was shot by his captors when they spotted him trying to escape in the middle of the firefight.

Atendido admitted that no one among the perpetrators was arrested.

The victims, all employees of Furniture Group Inc. in the town, were onboard eight trucks when 20 heavily armed men held them at gunpoint around 7 a.m. Friday. It was only around 9 p.m. on the same day that responding military troops were able to catch up with the group and its captives.

“The victims were taken to a forested area so we had difficulty in locating them immediately,” Atendido said. “We have identified the members of the group and they are mostly ex-convicts.”

The hostage-taking was reportedly carried out after the management of the firm refused to yield in to the lawless group’s P10-million extortion demand.

Firefight between the group and the responding military troops started when the lawless elements fired at the soldiers, who were attempting to negotiate for the release of the hostages.

Two of the hostages informed the soldiers that they were ordered by the group to help carry two of their wounded comrades before they were released around 3 p.m. Saturday.

Besides holding hostage employees of the firm, the gang members also burned five bulldozers and a five-ton truck.

Army troops from the 17th Infantry Battalion are presently on blocking positions at the junction of Salvacion village to arrest the fleeing bandits.

But not even one perp captured?
I hate to be cynical but some news can really get you worked up. :blink:

ngek oo nga no hostage pa ang namatay :o

True warrior style

Army captain frees self; kills 2 NPA captors
By Edith Regalado
The Philippine Star 07/27/2004

DAVAO CITY — Talk of valor.

Army Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez, of the 47th Infantry Battalion based in Panay Island, chose to fight New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who attacked a CAFGU detachment in Colombio, Sultan Kudarat last Sunday even when he was supposed to be off duty.

At least two rebels were reportedly killed while five others were wounded in the firefight that lasted for at least two hours.

Marquez himself was briefly taken hostage by the guerrillas, but managed to free himself and kill two of his captors.

"The rebels intercepted me while I was already near the detachment. They hogtied me but they were not able tie it well so I was able to break free. I immediately grabbed the M16 armalite rifle of one of my captors who was busy talking to their platoon leader," Marquez said.

Marquez was reportedly also a recipient of a "gold cross" award after he was instrumental in the recovery of six Chinese nationals who were kidnapped in Colombio early last year.

Lt. Col. Danilo Estropia, commanding officer of the 47th IB, said he would recommend a medal of valor for Marquez.

-- :bow: :bow:

imagine if the whole AFP are men like these.. we wont need modern equipment coz no one would dare anyway...

:bow: keep it up sir! :thumb:

Agree. We need more officers like him. :bow:

:thumb:

Military, NPA launch separate raids in Agusan, Zamboanga

Updated 02:50pm (Mla time) Aug 06, 2004
By Franklin Caliguid, Grace Cantal-Albasin, Hernan dela Cruz
Inquirer News Service

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Philippines -- Cesar Renerio, spokesman of the National Democratic Front in Northcentral Mindanao, said soldiers stormed the NPA camp in sitio Manawang in Barangay (village) Guinabsan around 5 a.m., killing a ranking rebel leader.

He said seven soldiers were also killed during the hour-long gun battle.

But Lieutenant Colonel Pendatun Guro, spokesman of the Army's 401st Infantry Brigade based here, debunked Renerio's claim about military casualties. He said only two soldiers were slightly wounded during the clash.

Meanwhile, New People's Army rebels wearing military uniforms disarmed policemen manning an outpost in Boyugan West in Kumalarang town, Zamboanga del Sur province on Thursday, Superintendent Karib Muammil said.

He said the rebels were on board a passenger bus and were presumably from Buug town in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

The rebels got off the bus on reaching the outpost and disarmed the two policemen manning it, he said.

The rebels took the police officers’ M-16 rifles and 9mm pistols, he added.

inq7.net
---------------
As easy as 123, add 2 more M16s and 2 9mm pistols to the NeP inventory.

Good job Army :thumb:

NPA base in Agusan seized; 17 rebels, soldiers dead

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The military captured a New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla base in Agusan del Norte on Friday.

Reports reaching Camp Evangelista, the base of the 4th Infantry Division, showed that 12 NPA guerrillas were killed and a number were wounded when the military attacked at sunrise a major NPA camp in sitio Manawang, barangay Guinabasan, Buenavista.

Five soldiers were killed and 13 were wounded from the incident.

Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, 4th ID commander, said that two of the slain guerrillas were identified only as alias Lamdag and alias Jerome.

He said that the capture of the heavily fortified camp of the NPA was the result of the cooperation of the civilians in the area.

“The camp was the staging area of the NPAs in conducting atrocities in the different municipalities. It was occupied by communist terrorists belonging to the Sentro de Grabidad Crema, led by a certain alias Troy of Front Guerrilla Unit Andy of Front Committee 4A under Ricardo Manili, alias Joker.

The wounded soldiers were evacuated to the Army hospital in Bancasi, Butuan City. The names of the slain soldiers were withheld pending notification of their respective families.

“We will continue to locate and engage them [NPAs] where they maybe. We will hit them and we will hit them hard,” Bagasin said.


ABS-CBN News

well done bros :thumb:

sad news...

Missing Army officer, aide found dead at gunbattle site

By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO

BANCASI, Butuan City – An Army officer and his aide, who were reported missing during a big gunbattle last week, were found dead by pursuing troops at the Mamawang battle site, barangay Guinabsan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, an Army commander said yesterday.

In a report sent to AFP chief of staff Gen. Narciso Abaya, Maj. Gen. Samuel B. Bagasin, commanding general of the Army’s Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division, identified the dead Army officer as 2nd Lt. Jovie P. Aleria and his aide as Private Sivee T. Berdon, both of 41st Reconnaisance Company of the 4th Division.

Their bodies were found during the clearing operations by reinforcing troops of the 401st Infantry (Unite and Fight) Brigade under the command of Col. Rogelio Rosete.

They were reported missing during the three-day air-and-ground assault in which a major New People’s Army (NPA) camp was overrun in Guinabsan, General Bagasin said.

With the discovery of the two bodies, the death toll in the Guinabsan gunbattle rose to seven soldiers and 12 rebels. The number of the wounded stood at 21.

Massive military operations, supported by attack helicopters and other war earth-moving equipment, were still going on yesterday morning in the Guinabsan mountain against some 60 heavily armed NPA rebels.

The soldiers belonging to 30th Infantry Battalion, 41st and 42nd Reconnaisance Companies under the over-all command of Colonel Rosete were pursuing the regional fighters of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Revolutionary Committee’s (NEMRC) Front Committee 4-A and Sentro de Grabidad Command, Bagasin said.

In a statement, Bagasin said, the heroic act of Lieutenant Aleria and his men in the Mamawang gunbattle preempted the rebels’ plan to attack Nasipit, the province’s frontier town where the international sea port and power-gas turbine barges are located.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV2004081015916.html

Official Army casualty list:

KIA:

2Lt. Jovie Aleria, Cpl. Edgado Bautista, T/Sgt. Piler Miral, Pfc. Elisor Lloyd Gul-les, Pfc. Anthony Abutanmo, Private Sevie Berdon and Pfc. Erwin Pabualan.

Rest in Peace, brothers in arms!

WIA:

2Lt. Romorosa, Sgt. Joel Española, privates Clint John Quizon, Nelson Mabandos, Allan Mirar, Brando Berduso and Roberto Bajaro, Pfcs. Alberto Bato, Ceciliano Butron and Jimenez , Cpl. Glenn Abo and a civilian guide, Romeo dela Peña.

Get well soon mga bro!

Soldiers kill 9 NPA rebels in Compostela Valley

Updated 09:23am (Mla time) Sept 23, 2004
Agence France-Presse


ZAMBOANGA , Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines -- Philippine soldiers killed at least nine communist guerrillas in a gunbattle in the southern island of Mindanao, a spokesman said Thursday.

Guerrillas of the communist New People's Army (NPA) opened fire on a military patrol in Compostela Valley late Wednesday but the soldiers fought back, killing nine of them, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero said.

The soldiers sustained no casualties, he said.

Troops had gone to the area after residents complained of NPA extortion and looting, he said.

The 8,600-strong NPA and its political leadership, the Communist Party of the Philippines have been waging a 35-year Maoist armed campaign to seize power.

The party announced in August that it was suspending peace talks with the government because of Manila's alleged failure to persuade Western countries to remove it from their lists of international terrorists.



http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?in...&story_id=12685

Good Job SRs.

yea right

rock on mga musang

:rifle:

hooah rangers!!! :fire:

:rifle: :rifle: :rifle:

hurrah RANGERS!!!!

RANGERS... para sa bayan!!!

yan ang RANGERs... :aberet:

Thursday, October 28, 2004
Communist chieftain captured in Pagadian (9:50 a.m.)

PAGADIAN -- Soldiers captured a regional leader of the communist guerrillas and killed one of his followers during a failed rebel raid on a military outpost, the military said Thursday.

Mario Bagundol, also known as "Comrade Jolly," regional chief of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in the western half of the southern Mindanao, was critically wounded in the attack on the outpost in Sindangan town, north of here on Wednesday.

Bagundol and about 30 NPA rebels attacked the outpost manned by about 14 government militiamen and soldiers but the insurgents retreated after Bagundol was wounded and another guerrilla slain, the military added.

An assault rifle with grenade launcher were captured from the NPA.

The rebel chief was taken to a hospital in the southern city of Dipolog for treatment.

Earlier this month, the communists announced that they would be stepping up their attacks. The Philippine military in turn went on full alert Tuesday with spokesmen saying this was in expectation of stepped-up NPA offensives.

The 8,600-strong NPA and its political leadership have been waging a Maoist campaign against the government for 35 years.

The communists suspended peace talks with Arroyo's government in August, saying that Manila had failed to persuade the United States and European countries to remove them from their lists of international terrorists. (AFP)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2004/...9.50.a.m.).html

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines --


Two suspected communist New People's Army rebels were killed in an encounter with Army troops led by Liuetenant Glenn Quilantong of the 2nd infantry brigade based in Barangay (village) Aniog in Juban town in Sorsogon province at 11 a.m. Monday.

Colonel Serafin Raymundo, spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division based in Pili town in Camarines Sur identified the slain rebels as Ka Orgel and Larry Gerona both considered NPA hitmen.

Raymundo lauded the residents in the barangay for reporting the presence of communist rebels in the area.

inq7.net

Army troops capture NPA camp in Compostela Valley


By MIKE U. CRISMUNDO

CAMP EDILBERTO EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – Troops of the Army’s 4th Special Force Company captured yesterday a camp of the New People’s Army (NPA) and seized several war materials, including bombs and land mines and anti-government documents at Puting Bato, barangay Ngan, Compostela town, Compostela Valley.

Lt. Col. Felicisimo C. Budiongan, a regional Army spokesman, said that Maj. Gen. Samuel P. Bagasin, area command chief of the Army’s Northern and Southern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division, ordered the deployment of helicopter gunships of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 15th Strike Wing and 205th Helicopter Wing in support of ground troops pursuing a big band of rebels.

Col. Ricardo Morales, commanding officer of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, was ordered to supervise an all-out operation against the "Pulang Bagani Command" of the CPPNPA Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee (SMRC), reportedly under the command of certain "Commander Lalay."

The big NPA camp that was captured by troops under Lieutenant Colanta has training ground, makeshift conference hall and kitchen, bunkers, listening posts and running trenches, Budiongan said.

"Our troops are still searching the captured camp," Bagasin stated in his report to AFP chief of staff Gen. Efren L. Abu.

Before the capture of the NPA camp, two platoons of the Bravo Company of the 36th Infantry Battalion under Lieutenant Lanzar was checking a report about 100 heavily armed NPA rebels at Puting Bato who were preparing to attack military installations in ComVal rovince. "Nasa staging area pa sila ng bulabugin ng tropa natin (They were still in the staging area when they were attacked by our troops), Bagasin said.

He said that the CPP-NPA-SMRC group in Southern Mindanao was out to avenge the series of losses it suffered in the fight against government troops.

Based on a report of a tactical advance command post of the 402nd Brigade, the two-and-half hours of fierce gun battle inflicted heavy casualties on the NPA. Earlier reports stated that 14 rebels were killed.

On the government side, two soldiers were killed and five others were wounded.

Five of the 14 slain NPA rebels were left behind by their comrades, villagers told the soldiers.

The nine other NPA fatalities were dragged along by their retreating companions.

source...

Hoooaahhh!!!

Army captures Sayyaf, MBG lair; 10 rebs killed


Saturday, 02/26/2005

The military's Southern Command (Southcom) yesterday claimed to have killed 10 rebels and overran another encampment of the Abu Sayyaf group and armed followers of detained Moslem leader Nur Misuari during operations in Indanan, Sulu province.

Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza said elements of the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) captured around 10 a.m. Thursday, Camp Carawan reportedly being maintained by Misuari's followers known as the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) and Abu Sayyaf group members.

"Our troops captured the camp without much resistance — we are now operating on their sanctuary. They are really on the run," Braganza told Camp Aguinaldo reporters.

Around 11 a.m., Braganza said military blocking force from the Army's 75th IB caught up with fleeing Abu Sayyaf and MBG rebels along the vicinity of Barangay Tungal, sparking an intense 15-minute firefight.

AFP reports said the rebels were led by Abu Sayyaf commanders Gumbahali Jumdail, alias Dr. Abu Pula, and Albader Parad.

Six wounded Abu Sayyaf members were reportedly undergoing treatment at the sprawling camp when the attack took place, Braganza said, adding that soldiers saw the guerillas dragging their wounded with their weapons behind them.

"The Abu Sayyaf (rebels) are really having a hard time. They are really hiding," after losing their stronghold, Braganza said.

The camp, covered by a thick, jungle canopy, making it invisible from the air, included numerous trenches and bunkers, a makeshift parade ground and even a volleyball court, reporters at the scene recounted.

"At least 10 were killed on the enemy side and undetermined wounded," the Southcom chief claimed, citing technical intercepts. He added military pursuit operations are still underway.

In a separate incident, soldiers killed Abu Sayyaf commander Ayob Ustadz Jacob Asmaul and an aide in a clash in Tuburan town on the island of Basilan on Thursday, Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said.

Quoting reports from the field, Bacarro said elements of the Army's 18th IB were on combat operations along Sitio Bakud in Barangay Pintasan around 6:15 a.m. when they chanced upon the extremist band.

A firefight immediately erupted between the government forces and the band of Asmaul. The clash lasted for about 15 minutes until the bandits withdrew toward northeast direction.

Earlier, the military also captured a stronghold of the MBG, under commander Habier Malik, located along the tri-boundaries of the municipalities of Luuk, Panamao and Kalinlangan Kaluang in Sulu.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has intensified operations against supporters of Misuari following strings of attacks against the military in Sulu province since Feb. 6 that have already resulted in the killing of at least 30 soldiers and the wounding of more than 80 others.

53rd IB commander Lt. Col. Dennis Villanueva was the highest ranking AFP officer slain during the conflict. He succumbed to mortar wounds last Feb. 11.

The military said the MBG was aided by Abu Sayyaf rebels in staging the attacks, which the Moslem group claimed was in retaliation to the massacre of a Moslem family of four in Maimbung town, also in Sulu last Feb. 1.

The military, however, expressed belief that the attacks were meant to pressure the government to release Misuari, who is presently detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna pending rebellion charges slapped against him for allegedly ordering an uprising in Sulu and Zamboanga City in 2001.

Sporadic clashes between the military and the Moslem armed groups continue to occur in various areas of Sulu, home province of Misuari, ousted chairman of the MNLF and former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Arroyo adminsitration also stepped up operations against the Abu Sayyaf following a series of deadly bomb blasts in Manila and the southern cities of Gen. Santos and Davao on Feb. 14 which killed about 12 persons and injured more than a hundred others.

At least four suspects have been held for the Valentine's Day bombings so far.

The Abu Sayyaf has also been blamed for the bombing of a ferry in Manila Bay last year that led to more than 100 deaths — the deadliest terrorist attack in the country. Mario J. Mallari and AFP

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.html

Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza said elements of the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) captured around 10 a.m. Thursday, Camp Carawan reportedly being maintained by Misuari's followers known as the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) and Abu Sayyaf group members.

Sweet ...they should rename Karawan Complexafter LTC Villanueva :thumb:


Filipino army soldiers patrol the Karawan complex in the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf in the war-torn Jolo island in southern Philippines February 25, 2005. Philippine security forces said on Wednesday they were hunting for three more suspects in last week's deadly Valentine's Day bombing in Manila, including a man believed to have supplied the explosives. REUTERS/Stringer

Its good as useless, that complex will soon be handed back to the MBG after this so-called truce...

Troops take alleged NPA camp in Columbio-Tampakan

full story

Well they could easily catch the fleeing rebels now that they are burdened with their dead and numerous wounded. :drunk:

Thats right! The military wouldn't probably want to take this area. Water source is too far especially during summer time when the small streams from Mt Tukay are dried up.

Who's the MBG/MNF-main stream/ ASG and PAGS anyway? I mean, if anyone in Sulu wants to make foolishness, they will identify themselves as the ASG! Ghalib Andang, the market "tong" collector of ex-Gov Tan became widely known as an ASG leader when he started his kidnapping activities. Before that he was just known as the "bata-bata" of the governor. Sulu is not worth dying for. Long live the AFP!

ya right, lets get out of sulu and let them fight and wipe out each other :drunk:

Kill them all let God sort them out! Just kidding,the AFP will win the hearts and minds of the Sulu people. :crawling:

Gen Braganza must make his enemy casualty count as 1,000 to ensure that becomes the next Chief of Staff!!!!! :demon:

At last! The military is showing signs of great improvement! :armycheers:

They have now started to apply what they have learned from their previous encounters.

:specool:

Soldiers overrun NPA camp
By: Maj. Neneveigh L. Alcovindas, CRS/PR

TACLOBAN CITY – It was through positive information from concerned citizens that led the military to an NPA camp near Brgy. Dalosduson, Hinabangan, Samar last Sunday morning, February 27, 2005.

Information gathered from Mayor Noriel L. Calorina of 801 st Infantry Brigade revealed that the operating troops of 801st Recon under Capt. Logronio, while conducting combat operations at the vicinity Brgy. Dalosduson, discovered the NPA camp.

The discover resulted in the encounter with some 81 NPA rebels under Ka Juling, believed to be the Secretary of South Samar Front 1. The camp has one bleacher and eight bunkers.

It was learned that the firefight between the rebels and government forces lasted for about 20 minutes which resulted to the recovery of one M16 rifle with 46 rounds ammunition, one cal. 45, one typewriter, one laptop computer, one generator, one Aiwa radio, VCD player, one Sony TV, one telescope, assorted medicines and subversive documents.

No reported casualty on the government side while undetermined numbers of rebels were believed to have been injured or killed in action as evidence by blood stains in their route of withdrawal.

Major Colarina said the encounter was a result of the positive information from concerned citizens in the area and the recovery of subversive documents from an abandoned enemy camp which was also discovered by the operating troop last February 22, 2005.

“The series of reports and the positive results in favor of the military is an indication that more people are now discontented with the presence of the communist terrorist and the massive extortion activities undertaken by the same group in their barangay,” Colarina added.

As this developed, the Brigade Commander of 801st Brigade, Col. Roberto C. Ver, directed the operating troops to conduct pursuit operations to track down the withdrawing rebels. Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude and commendation to the operating troops and informants as well as for the job well done and accurate information provided to the Brigade

http://www.evis.net.ph/lsde/locnews03.htm

good to hear the division/brigade recon coy are now conducting their own jungle raids. kudos to the 801st recon!

scout ranger training is paying off for division recon

:rifle:

A big sigh of relief from that ComVal tragedy.

Army Recons are now proving that they too can do the job with equal success.

Army Divisions are now realizing that transformation.

Now other groups can focus on the ASG and other terror cells.

Kudos to the Army Recon! :thumb: :thumb:

Just need some clarification guys:

Are these division recon coys patterned after PMC force recon units or similar to FSSR units which are more on direct action ops?

Most of them are SR grads so it must be SR direct action types using 7 man teams.

It does sound a bit odd to have "recon" as a term for the unit yet it participate into direct action ops i.e. raids and ambushes.

Anyways, I heard that PMC FR have crossed missions into direct action ops, I dunno if its true. MBLT should be able to fill you in on this.

Big tango for the info Fish :thumb:

Just a suggestion: Why not designate these units Ranger Recon to differentiate them from the hallowed Scout Ranger units? :drunk:

It seems like each division organizes and name them accordingly. In some divisions they have pure recon roles on other they have direct action roles. At this stage, the division/brigade strike-recon force concept has not been included into a unified doctrine so divisions can name and define them as they please to. Give it a chance, it is in infancy now and it is growing healthy. Better to have a name problem than non existence of the combat role/formation. :armycheers: