NPA Labor Day attack in Batangas foiled — AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The military said it has foiled a plot of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Batangas to launch attacks today following an encounter in San Juan town on Monday.

Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban, spokesman for the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said a soldier was wounded in the clash and an NPA amazon, said to be the wife of a rebel leader identified only as Jethro, was arrested.

Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., 202nd Infantry Brigade commander, said that prior to the clash, NPA rebels were monitored in Sitio Maquitib, Barangay Quipot while reportedly plotting attacks to coincide with the Labor Day celebration today.

“The encounter preempted an atrocity in Calabarzon, specifically in Batangas,” Burgos said.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Manio, First Infantry Battalion commander, said an M653 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol and an improvised explosive device were recovered from the NPA amazon.

“She will undergo custodial debriefing while appropriate charges are being prepared to be filed against her in court,” Manio said.

Manio said additional forces were deployed to pursue the rebels.

Military ops to continue

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is not suspending military offensives against the rebels on election day.

“Our counterinsurgency operations and all other security operations will not be stopped. There will be ongoing operations even if elections are ongoing,” Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said.

Detoyato said the AFP has committed around 40,000 troops to assist the Philippine National Police and Commission on Elections in ensuring an orderly and honest polls.

He said the military is  focusing its efforts in far-flung communities and areas identified as election hot spots to ensure that residents are free from threats or intimidation by private armed groups and communist rebels.