10 NPA rebels, 2 soldiers killed in Quezon clash

MANILA, Philippines -  More than two hours of fighting between the military and the New People’s Army (NPA) in General Nakar town in Quezon province left at least 10 rebels and two soldiers dead Thursday.

Sergeant Franklin Peralta and Corporal Ruben Pauig were injured and airlifted to the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City for treatment.

Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, said the clash started at around 2 p.m. at Sitio Pahimunan in Barangay Lumutan after members of the 80th Infantry Battalion engaged around 30 NPA rebels.

Of the 10 rebels, two were women. They all have yet to be identified.

The government lost Sergeants Nelson Zamora and Bernard Rosete.

In General Santos City, the rebel group torched two hauling trucks, a motorcycle and building of Amadeo Phela Resources, a banana export firm.

Over in Eastern Visayas, the Army lost an undetermined number of firearms after the NPA attacked and overran an outpost in Northern Samar also the other day.

Davao Oriental also reported a 20-minute skirmish in Barangay Tagbinunga, Mati City that left one rebel dead and two soldiers wounded.

In Manila, the NPA held a lightning rally yesterday at the historic Mendiola bridge, shouting slogans and encouraging the youth to join the revolution with spokesperson Liliosa Sumilang saying they are getting stronger because of the support from the youth sector.

But even when the NPA is conducting more attacks in a bid to show its strength, the Philippine government still hopes to reach an agreement for a bilateral ceasefire in the fourth round of peace talks in the Netherlands set to start next week.

Chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello III said President Duterte and National Democratic Front emissary Fidel Agcaoili are both interested in obtaining a bilateral ceasefire to end the hostilities.

“The first agenda item that we will tackle starting April 2 will be the issue of a bilateral ceasefire agreement. So very close, I think we should concentrate on this more important agreement because this is where we will be assured of the lowering or ending of hostilities,” Bello said.

A bilateral ceasefire would give the government assurance on the parameters and terms of reference of the agreement.

Although optimistic, Bello said both government and communist negotiating panels would be facing difficult issues, including forced collection of revolutionary taxes and definition of buffer zones.

The government panel is composed of former secretary Nani Braganza, former commissioner Rene Sarmiento, former regional state prosecutor Antonio Arellano and lawyer Angging Librado – a barangay chairman.

Bello said both groups would also tackle the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) – seen as the most important document that aims to resolve the historical and structural inequalities in Philippine society.

He described CASER as the heart and soul of the peace process as it would tackle issues of social justice, extreme poverty of people, corruption in government and injustice.

Unless these root issues are addressed, he added, the fighting would continue in the country as he gave assurance that the military would keep to its role of protecting the nation as the NPA tries to intensify its campaign so it could negotiate from a position of strength during the talks.  – With Ed Amoroso, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rey Galupo, Gerry Lee Gorit, John Unson, John Paul Jubelag