CAFGUs repel NPAs in separate North Cotabato attacks

NORTH Cotabato, Philippines - The military heightened its alert in Tulunan town following attacks by suspected New People's Army (NPA) members in two paramilitary detachments on Thursday night.

An undetermined number of rebels fired assault rifles and should-fire 40mm grenade at the paramilitary detachments in barangays Lampagang and New Tuburan, triggering panic among the villagers.

Chief Inspector Ronnie Cordero, police chief of Tulunan town, said that members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit manning the detachments were able to repel the communist rebels.

No one was reported killed or injured in the attack.

The police said that members of the NPA have been frequenting farming enclaves in the two barangays to collect food and revolutionary taxes from hapless farmers.

The detachments the rebels attacked are near Tulunan’s Barko-Barko area, scene of recent clashes between local militiamen and marauding Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerillas claiming ownership of farmlands of Ilonggo and ethnic Bilaan farmers.

A joint police and Army peacekeeping contingent, assisted by a team of ceasefire monitors comprised of representatives from the government and MILF, is now guarding the contested lands.