CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Troops captured two young
communist rebels, one of them wounded in clashes in the southern Philippines,
officials said Sunday.
Showing posts with label Ezra Balagtey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ezra Balagtey. Show all posts
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Top NPA leader slain in North Cotabato
KIDAPAWAN CITY – Security forces shot dead a female senior communist rebel leader after a gunfight erupted while policemen and soldiers were trying to arrest her in North Cotabato’s Makilala town, an army spokesman said Saturday.
Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said Juanita Gore Tacadao was killed in the Friday clash in the village of Malabuan where security forces tracked down her hideout.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Top NPA leader slain in South
DAVAO CITY – Security forces killed a
senior communist rebel leader who clashed with policemen, backed by soldiers
who tried to capture him alive in his hideout in the southern Philippine city
of Butuan, an army spokesman said Thursday.
Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, of the Eastern
Mindanao Command, said Manuel Magante, who served as the regional finance
officer and head of the special operations group of the New People’s Army, was
slain in the fighting in the village of San Ignacio on Wednesday.
Friday, February 15, 2019
NPA frees 6 militias, but kills 2 soldiers in patrol base raid in South
DAVAO CITY – Communist insurgents freed six out of over a dozen soldiers and militias they captured in southern Philippines and at the same time raided a military post and killing 2 soldiers and wounding another in the restive region.
Army Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said rebels released militias Jurian Gaviola, Marson and Hermito Iligan, Bienvinido Lamion, Eddie Tindoy and Sanny Malobay in Agusan del Norte’s Bayugan City late Thursday. But seven other militias and two soldiers remain captive in the province.
The hostages were seized by rebels in December last year following a firefight in Sibagat town, according to Balagtey.
He said the rebels released the militias to a third party facilitator, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, and handed them over to the 401st Infantry Brigade also in the town. “The release was brought about by the pressure of the relentless military operations to rescue the kidnapped troops,” he said.
Balagtey said despite the release of the hostages, rescue operation still continue in the province. He said Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr, the regional military commander, ordered the operation. “As of this time, our units in the area are continuously conducting military operations to rescue the remaining troops who are still being held and used as human shield and propaganda subject by the NPA,” Balagtey said.
This was confirmed by Santos, who also branded the release as rebel propaganda. “We assure our communities that this will not affect our effort and commitment in protecting our people,” he said.
A rebel spokesperson, Ka Malem Mabini, said NPA fighters also raided late Thursday a patrol base of the 1st Special Forces - Civilian Active Auxiliary in Dalwangan village in Bukidnon’s Malaybalay City and killed two soldiers and wounded another.
Mabini said rebel forces also seized 7 assorted automatic rifles from soldiers. “In this military action, it was confirmed that two officers of the Special Forces were killed while one soldier was also wounded. The Red armies also seized seven different high-powered rifles from the soldiers,” he said. Balagtey confirmed the fighting and said 4 rebels were reported slain in the clash. He said about 30 rebels attacked the patrol base, sparking a firefight.
He said an 11-man army team was constructing a patrol base in the village when rebels assaulted the soldiers, who fought the attackers and eventually fled and leaving behind 2 automatic rifles and two landmines. “Pursuit operation is going now,” he said.
The rebels have been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country. Peace talks with Manila collapsed last year after rebel negotiators rejected President Duterte’s demand for the NPA to sign a cease-fire agreement. The NPA said it will only agree on the truce if Duterte frees over 500 rebels languishing in prisons across the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Army Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said rebels released militias Jurian Gaviola, Marson and Hermito Iligan, Bienvinido Lamion, Eddie Tindoy and Sanny Malobay in Agusan del Norte’s Bayugan City late Thursday. But seven other militias and two soldiers remain captive in the province.
The hostages were seized by rebels in December last year following a firefight in Sibagat town, according to Balagtey.
He said the rebels released the militias to a third party facilitator, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, and handed them over to the 401st Infantry Brigade also in the town. “The release was brought about by the pressure of the relentless military operations to rescue the kidnapped troops,” he said.
Balagtey said despite the release of the hostages, rescue operation still continue in the province. He said Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr, the regional military commander, ordered the operation. “As of this time, our units in the area are continuously conducting military operations to rescue the remaining troops who are still being held and used as human shield and propaganda subject by the NPA,” Balagtey said.
This was confirmed by Santos, who also branded the release as rebel propaganda. “We assure our communities that this will not affect our effort and commitment in protecting our people,” he said.
A rebel spokesperson, Ka Malem Mabini, said NPA fighters also raided late Thursday a patrol base of the 1st Special Forces - Civilian Active Auxiliary in Dalwangan village in Bukidnon’s Malaybalay City and killed two soldiers and wounded another.
Mabini said rebel forces also seized 7 assorted automatic rifles from soldiers. “In this military action, it was confirmed that two officers of the Special Forces were killed while one soldier was also wounded. The Red armies also seized seven different high-powered rifles from the soldiers,” he said. Balagtey confirmed the fighting and said 4 rebels were reported slain in the clash. He said about 30 rebels attacked the patrol base, sparking a firefight.
He said an 11-man army team was constructing a patrol base in the village when rebels assaulted the soldiers, who fought the attackers and eventually fled and leaving behind 2 automatic rifles and two landmines. “Pursuit operation is going now,” he said.
The rebels have been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country. Peace talks with Manila collapsed last year after rebel negotiators rejected President Duterte’s demand for the NPA to sign a cease-fire agreement. The NPA said it will only agree on the truce if Duterte frees over 500 rebels languishing in prisons across the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Friday, January 25, 2019
More troops sent to search for trapped miners in Agusan mountain
DAVAO CITY – The Philippine military has dispatched more soldiers on Friday to help search for 3 missing miners after a landslide buried them inside tunnels in Mount Manhupao in Agusan del Norte’s Jabonga town.
The trio were missing since January 20 after torrential rains triggered the landslide in the village of Bangonay that had killed 4 people, according to Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command.
He said the deployment of additional military rescuers was ordered by Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos, the division commander, to help search for the missing miners.
“Provide search and retrieval capability and other humanitarian assistance to the province without compromising the safety and security of our responding troops and other search and rescue groups,” Santos said in his order.
The missing miners were identified as Rex Penig, Jay-ay Matanog and another who is only known by his first name Gang-gang.
Mount Manhupao is a known gold rush area in Agusan del Norte where small scale miners dug holes despite the dangers posed by landslides and collapse of makeshift tunnels. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The trio were missing since January 20 after torrential rains triggered the landslide in the village of Bangonay that had killed 4 people, according to Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command.
He said the deployment of additional military rescuers was ordered by Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos, the division commander, to help search for the missing miners.
“Provide search and retrieval capability and other humanitarian assistance to the province without compromising the safety and security of our responding troops and other search and rescue groups,” Santos said in his order.
The missing miners were identified as Rex Penig, Jay-ay Matanog and another who is only known by his first name Gang-gang.
Mount Manhupao is a known gold rush area in Agusan del Norte where small scale miners dug holes despite the dangers posed by landslides and collapse of makeshift tunnels. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Thursday, December 27, 2018
11 soldiers wounded in NPA clash
DAVAO CITY – Communist insurgents clashed with security forces and wounded nearly a dozen soldiers in Comp0stela Valley’s Monkayo town in southern Philippines.
The fighting erupted on Wednesday after soldiers ran into a group of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Mount Diwata and a firefight ensued. The 10th Infantry Division only reported the fighting on Thursday.
It said troops were deployed in the area after villagers secretly reported to the military the presence of rebels who were recruiting civilians to fight the government. The rebels also planted improvised explosives on roads where security patrol usually passes.
“There were 11 wounded on the government forces, but had been immediately brought to the hospital and all are now in stable condition. Casualties on the enemy side are still to be determined as there were traces of bloodstain found in the encounter site,” the army said, adding, it has raised the alert status of all units to red while the military operations are going on against the NPA.
“In line with the 10th Infantry Division’s intensified information gathering and massive focused military operation, all units are in full alert and pursuit operation is now on-going,” it said.
The order came from Brig. Gen. Jose Faustino, the division commander, who also condemned the NPA for its continued use of landmines. “It is a clear violations of the provisions stipulated in International Humanitarian Law. It can also inflict casualty to the civilian populace. The people’s protection against harm brought by elements of CPP-NPA-NDF terror group is our paramount concern,” he said.
CPP refers to Communist Party of the Philippines and NDF of the National Democratic Front is the political wing of CPP.
Faustino did not release the names of the wounded soldiers, but the province is a known stronghold of the communist group which has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
The fighting occurred a day after 19 rebels surrendered to the 26th and 75th Infantry Battalions in Agusan del Sur’s Loreto town. The rebels, led by their commander, also yielded assorted weapons, including communication radio sets, grenades and ammunition.
Army Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said corruption in the communist party and the rebel group triggered the mass surrender of rebels whose entire unit was operating in Agusan Sur and Compostela Valley provinces.
Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commander of 4th Infantry Division and concurrent chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, has urged other rebels to surrender peacefully and avail of the government amnesty program.
Rebel forces have threatened to launch offensives in retaliation to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to destroy the rebels following the collapse of the peace talks. They are still holding over a dozen pro-government militias and soldiers in the restive region. (Mindanao Examiner)
The fighting erupted on Wednesday after soldiers ran into a group of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Mount Diwata and a firefight ensued. The 10th Infantry Division only reported the fighting on Thursday.
It said troops were deployed in the area after villagers secretly reported to the military the presence of rebels who were recruiting civilians to fight the government. The rebels also planted improvised explosives on roads where security patrol usually passes.
“There were 11 wounded on the government forces, but had been immediately brought to the hospital and all are now in stable condition. Casualties on the enemy side are still to be determined as there were traces of bloodstain found in the encounter site,” the army said, adding, it has raised the alert status of all units to red while the military operations are going on against the NPA.
“In line with the 10th Infantry Division’s intensified information gathering and massive focused military operation, all units are in full alert and pursuit operation is now on-going,” it said.
The order came from Brig. Gen. Jose Faustino, the division commander, who also condemned the NPA for its continued use of landmines. “It is a clear violations of the provisions stipulated in International Humanitarian Law. It can also inflict casualty to the civilian populace. The people’s protection against harm brought by elements of CPP-NPA-NDF terror group is our paramount concern,” he said.
CPP refers to Communist Party of the Philippines and NDF of the National Democratic Front is the political wing of CPP.
Faustino did not release the names of the wounded soldiers, but the province is a known stronghold of the communist group which has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.
The fighting occurred a day after 19 rebels surrendered to the 26th and 75th Infantry Battalions in Agusan del Sur’s Loreto town. The rebels, led by their commander, also yielded assorted weapons, including communication radio sets, grenades and ammunition.
Army Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said corruption in the communist party and the rebel group triggered the mass surrender of rebels whose entire unit was operating in Agusan Sur and Compostela Valley provinces.
Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commander of 4th Infantry Division and concurrent chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, has urged other rebels to surrender peacefully and avail of the government amnesty program.
Rebel forces have threatened to launch offensives in retaliation to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to destroy the rebels following the collapse of the peace talks. They are still holding over a dozen pro-government militias and soldiers in the restive region. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Whole NPA unit yields to military in South
DAVAO CITY – A whole unit of the communist rebel group New People’s Army or NPA has surrendered to the military in the southern Philippine province of Agusan del Sur, officials said Wednesday.
Army Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said 19 members of the Guerrilla Front 3 surrendered to the 26th and 75th Infantry Battalions in Loreto town on Tuesday.
He said the rebels, led by their commander, also yielded assorted weapons, including communication radio sets, grenades and ammunition. “Corruption in the communist party and the rebel group caused a whole unit of insurgents operating in Agusan Sur and Compostela Valley provinces to surrender to the democratic government,” Balagtey said.
“They can no longer endure the corruption and inconsistencies in their propaganda and action while some of them can no longer endure the continuous operations of the military,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commander of 4th Infantry Division and concurrent chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, urged other rebels to surrender peacefully and avail of the government amnesty program.
“We welcome their surrender. This is the best gift to their families who are waiting for them to come home alive. Our lines of communication are also open to those who wish to take this opportunity to abandon the armed struggle and violence perpetrated by the rebels and embrace a life of peace and prosperity with their family,” he said.
There was no immediate statement from the NPA on the mass surrender of its fighters, but the communist group has threatened to launch offensives in retaliation to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to destroy the rebels following the collapse of the peace talks.
Rebel forces have recently taken over a dozen pro-government militias and soldiers in the restive region where security forces are battling communist insurgents and pro-ISIS groups. (Mindanao Examiner)
Army Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said 19 members of the Guerrilla Front 3 surrendered to the 26th and 75th Infantry Battalions in Loreto town on Tuesday.
Military photos released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner show NPA rebels and weapons during their surrender in Agusan del Sur province on Dec. 25, 2018.
He said the rebels, led by their commander, also yielded assorted weapons, including communication radio sets, grenades and ammunition. “Corruption in the communist party and the rebel group caused a whole unit of insurgents operating in Agusan Sur and Compostela Valley provinces to surrender to the democratic government,” Balagtey said.
“They can no longer endure the corruption and inconsistencies in their propaganda and action while some of them can no longer endure the continuous operations of the military,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commander of 4th Infantry Division and concurrent chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, urged other rebels to surrender peacefully and avail of the government amnesty program.
“We welcome their surrender. This is the best gift to their families who are waiting for them to come home alive. Our lines of communication are also open to those who wish to take this opportunity to abandon the armed struggle and violence perpetrated by the rebels and embrace a life of peace and prosperity with their family,” he said.
There was no immediate statement from the NPA on the mass surrender of its fighters, but the communist group has threatened to launch offensives in retaliation to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to destroy the rebels following the collapse of the peace talks.
Rebel forces have recently taken over a dozen pro-government militias and soldiers in the restive region where security forces are battling communist insurgents and pro-ISIS groups. (Mindanao Examiner)
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