Mga Hulagway sa mga Nasakmit nga mga Armas didto sa GL ug Dapa

Members from the local tri-media during the press conference on National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration on Wednesday (July 2) at the PNP-Police Regional Office 13, Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Libertad Butuan City are shown here huddling over the three high powered firearms, one pistol, seven improvised landmines, detonating cords with blasting caps and several ammunition of different calibers and other stolen equipment used by the New People’s Army (NPA) which was recovered by government troopers. Also recovered from the NPAs in the encounter areas in Dapa, General Luna and Claver Surigao del Norte attacks were radio sets and PNP uniforms of the policemen. According to PNP report, several firearms were thrown to the sea by the rebels after they sensed that the troopers were closing in on them. (PIA-Caraga)

PNP Caraga Regional Director PCSUPT Jaime Eloreta Milla is shown here during the press conference on National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration on Wednesday (July 2) at the PNP-Police Regional Office 13, Camp Rafael Rodriguez, Libertad Butuan City, presenting to the members of the local tri-media the recovered firearms, equipment, uniforms, and other materials used by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Dapa, General Luna and Claver Surigao del Norte attacks. (PIA-Caraga)

5 villages in Surigao Norte town under state of calamity over hostilities

Five villages in the municipality of Claver in Surigao del Norte were placed under the state of calamity, as hostilities between government forces and communist insurgents raged on for a fifth day.

GMA’s Flash Report quoted Claver Mayor Eddie Go as saying that fighting between military and police troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have continued unabated in the last five days.

The report said according to Chief Superintendent Jaime Milla, Caraga police regional director, NPA rebels attacked Dapa and General Luna towns on Siargao Island over the weekend and even held hostage several people in the island, including some foreigners.

The NPA members even raised the flag of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for two days, the report said.

On Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, Army spokesman, said the attack was staged by 50 NPA rebels who raided the police stations and burned a cellular phone transmission in Dapa and General Luna towns late Saturday.

The television report said that when government troops arrived to the island, the NPA rebels were forced to cross to Claver town where the firefight continued.

Brawner said at least 15 suspected NPA members were killed while 12 others were captured in clashes on Siargao Island.

For his part, Eastern Mindanao regional military spokesman Maj. Armand Rico said two policemen were killed and four others were wounded in the hostilities.

Surigao del Norte, a province of nearly 500,000 people, is about 430 miles southeast of Manila. - (GMANews.TV)

Situation Report ini gikan sa PIA-Surigao del Norte last June 28: On Meningoccocemia Scare in Surigao City

City Health Officer Aldine Morales in a press conference last Friday urged the local residents of Surigao City not to panic and stay calm amid the “meningococcemia scare” among residents in the city.

“There is no cause for alarm” he said adding that meningococcemia is already contained and controlled. The city health office made the assurance to the people that this disease is curable in the wake of the “alleged meningooccocemia case” in the city that resulted to a death of a 51-yr old pre-school teacher last Thursday, June 26 which panicked the residents.

Morales clarified that they are still waiting for the laboratory result which will be released next week (kuman na ini na semana). He informed the media that they have already given medications to the family and close contacts of the victim.

Morales also said that the disease is very serious and highly communicable and is very fatal, one should be cautious of the symptoms and signs like coughing, sore throat, pinpoint rashes which is become wider and appear like bruises starting on the legs and arms.

He then urged the public to be concerned with their personal hygiene and to clean their surroundings to prevent any spread of the bacteria. - (PeriodicoSurigao)

MAJOR ACTION IN PROGRESS AFTER NPA RAIDS IN SURIGAO DEL NORTE

War planes and attack gunship helicopters of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) strike wing and helicopter wing of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were deployed to extend air cover to the pursuing Army combat maneuvering battalion who encountered Sunday morning the withdrawing communist insurgents in Surigao del Norte, sketchy reports reaching the tactical advance command post (ACP) of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division stated.

The air support to the ground troops started at 10 o’clock in the morning. The war planes and helicopters took off from Bancasi Airport in Butuan City and flew to ’specified target’ areas in Claver and still undisclosed targets, it was learned.

Maj. Michele B. Anayron, regional Army spokesman, said blocking combat soldiers of the 30th Infantry Battallion, personally led by

Lt. Col. Cristobal Zaragosa encountered the running New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at 9:15 in the morning in nearby coastal area in Panatao, Claver, Surigao del Norte.

At least five NPA rebels were already captured in Lapinigan island while one M16 Armalite rifle with M203 tube was also seized in the ensuing gunbattle.

Identities of the captured NPA rebels were temporarily withheld pending tactical interrogation.

‘The boats they (NPA) commandeered encountered sea engine trouble, that’s why our troops engaged them,’ said Maj. Anayron, adding ‘Running gunbattle is still raging in the area’.

Initially, troops of 1Lt. Joselito Anti engaged the estimated 40 withdrawing rebels, who are reportedly members of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, he said.

He said the encountered NPA rebels were part of the attacking communist insurgents in the municipalities of Dapa and General Luna, in Siargao Island of that same province Saturday night.

Maj. Anayron said operating troops in Claver area cannot still determine the number of casualties in Panatao heavy gunbattle as fighting still rages as of press time while another encounter still rages in unidentified coastal area in Claver town.

Brig. Gen. Ricardo A. David Jr., area command chief of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division, ordered Brig. Gen. Dante Fernandez, commanding officer of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade the deployment of more combat troops in Claver, Maj. Anayron added.

The attack in Siargao Island, the most recorded peaceful area in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) on Saturday night is the first that ever happened in the island.

Chief Supt. Jaime E. Milla, regional director of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) is currently in the island, particularly in the municipalities of Dapa and General Luna, to assess the situation and to personally supervise the island’s police force in the pursuit operation to fleeing communist insurgents.

BUTUAN CITY, June 29 (PNA) — At least 16 long and short firearms were carted away by an estimated 60 suspected New People’s Army rebels who simultaneously ransacked two Municipal Halls and police stations, the Dapa, Surigao del Norte and General Luna Municipal Halls and police offices all in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte on Saturday at about 10:30 p.m, initial police and military reports said.

The Municipalities of Dapa and General Luna, the country’s surfing capital and where many foreigners are now staying, is just 14 kilometers apart from each other, all situated in the Siargao Island.

Siargao Island which has nine municipalities is about two to three hours away by motorboat ride from the sea port of Surigao City.

Fourth Infantry Division Philippine Army spokesman Major Michelle Anayron, Jr. confirmed the attack and claimed military and police reinforcements are now pursuing the attackers believed to be mostly young rebels.

Initial police report reaching this regionʼs capital, particularly at the Caraga Regional Police Information Office here, claimed an estimated 60 fully-armed men and women clad in black uniforms boarding in six vans suddenly disembarked and scattered all over Dapa Municipal Hall Compound.

Twenty of them stormed Dapa Municipal Police Office where about six police personnel allegedly on duty. The raiders announced a raid then ordered all shocked and helpless policemen to lie face down on the floor.

Suspected NPA rebels then took away all six service short firearms and three M-16 armalite rifles of the policemen and undetermined number of ammunitions.

While the 20 suspected NPA rebels were busy guarding and hoarding firearms of the policemen, other comrades of the NPA raiders ransacked nearby government offices situated within the Municipal Hall compound.

The suspects destroyed computers and other facilities of the Dapa Fire Station, Dapa Water District, Dapa Municipal Circuit and Trial Court, SSS, BIR, Philippine Health or Phil Health and Public Attorneyʼs Offices.

Police said the suspects also destroyed computer and other equipment of the Dapa Municipal Police Office.

As the raid in Dapa town progressed, suspected communist rebels, also estimated to be 60 fully armed guerillas, conducted lightning raid on General Luna Municipal Police Office and carted away six service firearms, one M-16 armalite rifle and five others whose caliber or type of firearms were not reported.

Police reports claimed the General Luna Municipal Police Station, led by its chief of police, was able to put-up a firefight for more or less 15 minutes before being overrun by the Communist terrorists.

A certain PO1 William Montilla Dayday was wounded and is presently confined in a hospital.

Like in Dapa, the General Luna Police Station is situated within the Municipal Hall compound.

Same report claimed personnel from Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Offices and 14th Regional Mobile Group had already deployed as blocking/intercepting forces at the possible escape routes of attackers while Philippine Army personnel in the area has also called for reinforcement.

Before the simultaneous attacks, the rebels allegedly knocked out communication facilities of the two island towns. (Balita Pinoy - Philippine News & Analysis)

Troops kill 15 NPAs, nab 12 more in Surigao Norte

At least 15 suspected members of the New People’s Army were killed while 12 others were captured in a clash with government troops in Surigao del Norte that began over the weekend, the spokesman for the Philippine Army said Monday.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said that the suspected insurgents were slain and arrested in pursuit operations by the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion and the 42nd Military Intelligence Company in Siargao Island.

Brawner said the pursuing troops were augmented by the local police, which helped in the follow-up operations launched after the NPA rebels attacked a police station and burned a cellular phone transmission in Dapa and General Luna towns late Saturday.

Eastern Mindanao regional military spokesman Maj. Armand Rico earlier said two policemen were killed and four others were wounded in the encounter.

Initially, 50 NPA rebels attacked a police station in Dapa town, where they carted away a number of assault rifles and pistols. After government officials blocked exit points in the area, the rebels split into two groups.

One of the two groups fled bv boat to Lapinigan Island, where they remain trapped as of 9 a.m. in the island’s forested interior, Brawner said.

Firefight continues as of this posting, the Army spokesman added.

Surigao del Norte, a province of nearly 500,000 people, is about 430 miles southeast of Manila. - (GMANews.TV)