Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC)

Monday, Feb. 01, 2010 at 8:22 AM

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EPCC NEWS

February 1, 2010

AFP-NPA Clashes: 28 AFP troops killed or wounded

Los Angeles- EPCCNEWS learned today that more than 28 AFP troops were killed or wounded in several clashes in the Philippines last week.

At least five Army soldiers were killed while 11 others were wounded in separate clashes with communist rebels in Malibcong and Tubo towns in Abra, in Northern Luzon on Sunday,January 31 reports reaching this camp on Monday said.

Lieutenant Colonel Loreto Magundayao Jr., 5th Infantry Division spokesman and civil-military operations battalion commander, declined to identify the slain soldiers, saying Army officials were still getting in contact with their relatives, as of Monday.

Magundayao said soldiers from the 41st Infantry Battalion were patrolling the village of Lap-ey in Malibcong when they clashed with more than 20 New People's Army (NPA) rebels at past 4 p.m. Sunday.

He said the soldiers engaged the rebels in an hour-long gunfight before they overran the rebel camp.Five soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded in that clash.

In Tubo town also on Sunday, Magundayao said at least three soldiers from the 50th IB were wounded when their group engaged another group of NPA rebels in a 15-minute gunfight in the village of Kili.

Mountain Province

At least five Army soldiers were killed while four others were hurt in a clash with communist rebels in Bontoc, Mountain Province, the military here said Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Loreto Magundayao Jr., civil-military operations battalion chief and spokesman of the Army's 5th Infantry Division based here, said Privates First Class Velasco Mayao, Camilo Abad, Joey Corpuz and Joseph Casem, and Corporal Napoleon Ramirez were killed in the firefight with about 30 New People's Army rebels in Barangay (village) Mainit, Bontoc, at about 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Magundayao said their field reports indicated that the NPA suffered casualties but could not say how many were killed or wounded in the clash. He said soldiers from the 54th Infantry Battalion were in Barangay Mainit to pursue a group of NPA rebels led by one Ka Dandan when the gunfight erupted.

Clashes in Mindanao

Six soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion in North Cotabato, a military spokesman said Wednesday. In a text message, Army 602nd Brigade commander Colonel Alejandro Estomo said that his men were on board a KM450 when a landmine exploded in the vicinity of Old Bulatukan village, Makilala town, North Cotabato, just 150 meters from the headquarters, at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The soldiers were on their way back to their camp after playing basketball in Mount Apo Alliance Bible Church, Estomo added. He identified the wounded soldiers as Corporal Geruel Hipe, Private First Class (PFC.) Levie Faranal, PFC. Josel Miravalles, PFC. Ariel Tambagan and PFC. John Edward Tangub.

The EPCC NEWS expects more clashes as the election in the Philippines nears May 2010. With the failed peace talks between the MILF and the NDF with the GRP, proliferation of warlord armies and political vendetta, armed clashes with government troops will intensify.

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