NPA reports attacks vs AFP

SOMEWHERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CAMARINES NORTE – While welcoming the 48th anniversary of the New People’s Army yesterday (March 29), the rebel group reported a series of tactical offensives which they claimed were successfully carried out against government troopers. The report sent through email said that late in the evening of March 20, the Armando Catapia Command of the NPA based in Camarines Norte was able to attack elements of the 9th ID, PA aboard a truck along the highway in Barangay Bagong Silang Dos, Labo, Camarines Norte. One element from the 9th ID was killed, while four of his companions were injured. Earlier, last March 18, at around 12:00 noon, a team from the same rebel command harassed a platoon from the 9th ID based in Sitio Hanlab, Barangay Magsaysay,Capalonga, Camarines Norte. The rebel dispatch said that “these tactical offensives of the Armando Catapia Command serve to counter and foil the continuing fascist attacks of the 9th ID in Camarines Norte, which escalated upon the declaration of the unjust all-out-war under the bogus “Oplan Kapayapaan” (Operation Peace) of the Duterte regime.” The same dispatch accused the government armed forces to have “spread false news of encounters between them and the NPA, to make it appear that they have captured and killed NPA fighters.” It claimed that as early as February 26, this year, “elements from the 9th ID, under 2nd Lieutenant Mario D. Hermo, accused a mentally-disturbed farmer of being a member of the NPA. Noel Alsom, a farmer from Barangay Villa Aurora, Capalonga, was illegally arrested and detained.” Last March 15, elements from the 9th ID, under a Sgt. Hernandez, accused and killed a farmer by the name of Obina (surname) in Barangay Mactang, Capalonga. “He was shot seven times and dressed up to look like an NPA fighter. The 9th ID then concocted the fake news of an encounter. “ Last March 24, elements from the 9th ID, pretending to be members of the NPA, summoned residents from Bagong Silang Dos, Labo to interrogate them regarding support being extended to the NPA. “This has caused great distress and fear among the residents, the rebel dispatch said.