Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil commander of the 11th Infantry Battalion, yesterday said there will be no let-up in their operations against the New People's Army in central Negros, with Philippine Air Force helicopter gunships from Cebu joining the "Oplan Kingfisher" launched by Negros Island Commander Col. Jerry Jalandoni.

Soldiers overran the camp of NPA Larangan Gerilya 1 headed by Joenito Saniko, alias Tamong, after 15 minutes of gunbattle in Brgy. San Agustin, Isabela, on Friday.

The launching of Oplan Kingfisher was in response to the renewed tactical offensives of the New People's Army in Negros.

Manangquil said they have received reports from barangay residents of rebels injured in the gunbattle.

A fragmentation grenade, magazines of M-14 assault rifles, combat packs containing personal belongings and medical kits were recovered from the rebel camp reportedly occupied by about 30 NPA guerillas. The CPP Central Committee, in a statement detailing its 10-point guideline issued for the NPA to accelerate tactical offensive, said "When the enemy force advances with a superior force raring for a fight, we must not meet it headlong".

"We can inflict casualties on an advancing enemy force by using "landmines", small teams and snipers," the CPP statement added.

Manangquil said he believes the CPP-NPA in Negros may also have homemade landmines, which they have been hiding for use against soldiers.

Military records show that the New People's Army detonated landmines during an ambush in Calinog,Iloilo last year, which claimed the lives of nine soldiers and caused injuries to 20 others.

The Boy Gatmaitan Command also claimed responsibility for the raid of a police detachment in Escalante last month, where they took nine firearms, including a light machine gun.

Lt. Col. Norman Flores, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said they also maintain their alert in southern Negros, to monitor the possible entry of rebels from central Negros who may seek refuge in his area.

CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal, in another statement, justified the use of land mines as part of the wide range of weapons used by the NPA in its guerilla war.

Rosal claimed there are no international prohibitions against any of the weapons used by the NPA, including command-detonated landmines which have specific military targets.*GPB

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