Official Philippine Army Press Release

Date Released: 26 April 2010

Reds blast IED in ComVal, troops discover NPA camp

Camp Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City - New People' Army (NPA) terrorists exploded three Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) along a trail in Sitio Matunog (sub-village) in Mangayon village in Monkayo town in Compostela (ComVal) Sunday night.

The blast prompted elements of the Army's 25th Infantry Battalion (25IB) to launch a clearing operation that resulted not only to the recovery of the exploded IEDs but also the discovery of an NPA encampment 9:40 AM Monday.

Lt. Col. Gilbert Saret, commander of 25IB said "The encampment can accommodate atleast 30 fighters with mutually supporting position, well concealed with an advance command post to see approaching government troops."

Col. Romeo Calizo, commander of the army's 1001st Infantry Brigade who has operational jurisdiction over most part of the gold rich province of ComVal slammed the NPA on the incident saying it could have injured civilians as the IEDs were placed along the trail. "The explosion may have been unintentional and might be due to faulty improvisation on the part of the terrorists. It could have killed or maimed anyone on its path and that include civilians or even them (NPA). The continued use of IEDs by the NPAs is a proof of their terroristic nature as an organization." Calizo said.

"We hope no one was injured on their part as the explosion apparently occurred while they were sleeping in that encampment." Calizo added.

Three days ago Army bomb experts recovered an IED huge enough to blow-up a tank in the village of Dumlan in Maco Town still in ComVal Province. Also this month, bomb making components were recovered by soldiers of the 66th Infantry Battalion in New Bataan town also in ComVal province.

Reports reaching authorities state that NPA terrorists plan to use IED against soldiers and policemen by planting them on the roadside and as leverage against candidates planning to campaign in far flung areas in line with their extortion scheme "Permit to Campaign Fee."

Several IEDs and other bomb making paraphernalia have also been recovered by troops in Southern Mindanao following series of reports by local residents. Several IEDs planted by NPAs also went off killing and wounding soldiers and civilians in this region in the past.

Local terrorists in southern Mindanao have long admitted the use of bombs as one of their tactics in pursuing a violent overthrow of the government but authorities see it as a way of protecting their (NPA) extortion activities.