Eight armed encounters between government security forces and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels occurred in the span of three days.
On September 2 at around 8:00 p.m., seven rebel fighters attacked a government militia patrol base in Pananay-an, in Placer, Surigao del Norte. The firefight lasted for 5 minutes. The rebels withdrew with unknown number of casualties. No casualties were reported on the government side.
On September 3, five separate encounters occurred in Mindanao.
At 4:13 a.m., seven soldiers were wounded by a landmine explosion planted by the communist NPA rebels in Sitio Lantaan, Barangay Napnapan in Pantukan, Compostela Valley.
At around 4:30 p.m., army troops from the 57th Infantry Battalion encountered an undetermined number of armed rebels in the hinterlands of Barangay Cabilao in Makilala, North Cotabato. One soldier was killed while casualties from the rebels are unknown. The clash also resulted to the evacuation of at least 80 families from Sitios Lamudon, Eden, Medang, and Badiangon of Barangay Cabilao. The evacuees were temporarily sheltered in the barangay hall.
At around 6:10 p.m, 10 rebels attacked a government militia patrol base in Barangay Camp Edward in Alegria, Surigao del Norte. Firefight lasted for a few minutes and no casualties were reported.
At around 6:20 p.m., 20 rebels attacked a government militia patrol base in Barangay Mahayahay in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. The encounter lasted 30 minutes with no casualties reported. Rebels withdrew toward the forested area.
On the same day, 10 or more rebels opened fired on an encampment of soldiers belonging to the Community Organizing for Peace and Development (COPD) team of the army’s 26th Infantry Battalion in the hinterland area of Brgy Sabud, Loreto, Agusan del Sur. The soldiers were able to return fire. The firefight ensued for about 20 minutes. No reported casualties on both sides.
On September 4, two separate encounters occurred. At 3:45 a.m., 10 rebels harassed a militia patrol base in Barangay Baliguian Municipality of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte. The firefight lasted for 15 minutes with no reported casualties. Government troops immediately pursued the rebels.
At around 5:30 a.m., 10 rebels attacked a company of Police Special Action Force (SAF) in Barangay San Roque in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. The firefight lasted for 10 minutes with no casualties reported. Police personnel recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) and other bomb-making paraphernalia.
There have been increased attacks from communist rebels in the past days. It can be expected that more attacks will ensue as the NPA is known to have substantial presence in areas where they are reported to conduct strikes on government forces and extortion on businesses.
