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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines Orders Action Against Rebels |
| 2003-06-27 |
| The president ordered the military to crack down ``swiftly and forcibly'' on communist rebels Friday, a day after guerrillas allegedly killed 17 people in a remote army camp in central Philippines. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said it was unfortunate the communist New People's Army guerrillas exploited ``a weak spot'' in the government's defense. ``We have the duty to protect our own far-flung military and police outposts with forward intelligence coverage,'' Arroyo said. ``Meanwhile, I have also directed that these fresh waves of attacks be dealt with swiftly and forcibly.'' She was really trying to sign a ceasefire and deal with all these thugs, but they had to keep up their attacks. Now I think she's fed up and the military has been let loose. Good. Considered the biggest attack in more than a decade, about 200 guerrilla fighters raided the army camp on Samar island Thursday, killing 11 government militiamen, five soldiers and the wife of a soldier, said Lt. Col. Ruby Bongabong, spokeswoman for the army's Central Command. Concentrated their forces on a small outpost Two other soldiers were reported wounded in the two-hour firefight, after which the rebels withdrew on boats. ``Our troops were overwhelmed,'' Bongabong said. Troops pursuing the rebels recovered the boats in nearby Arteche, Bongabong said. The boats had bloodstains, indicating the guerrillas also suffered casualties, she said. Arroyo vowed to stop isolated insurgent groups from roaming in the countryside. ``I am directing the military and police to combine their intelligence resources so that we can obviate the element of surprise that is being used to our disadvantage,'' Arroyo said. In a statement Friday, Communist Party spokesman Gregorio Rosal congratulated the Samar guerrillas for the raid on the army patrol camp outside Oras town, in Eastern Samar province. He said the rebels ``exhibited correct guerrilla tactics.'' The rebels ransacked the camp's armory, and the ``additional arms and munition will help arm the growing number of NPA fighters,'' he said. The New People's Army, which claims to have about 13,500 fighters, has been battling for a Marxist state for over 30 years. Its attacks usually target military positions and camps as well as business establishments that refuse to pay ``revolutionary taxes.'' The military estimates the rebel army has 10,000 fighters. |
| Posted by:Steve |