For the second time in six months, suspected New People's Army guerrillas harassed the Gatuslao detachment in Candoni, Negros Occidental, Friday, the military said yesterday.

Lt. Col. Norman Flores, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said the harassment staged by about 10 NPA fighters Friday night, was probably aimed at testing the security preparedness of the detachment.

Col. Jerry Jalandoni, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, has ordered Army field commanders in Negros island to be on the "offensive" mode, following the intensified rebel attacks all over the country.

The Gatuslao detachment incident came a week after the NPA also raided a detachment of the 1st Provincial Mobile Group and seized nine firearms, including a light machine gun, in a remote barangay of Escalante City.

Flores recalled that the NPA also harassed the Gatuslao detachment in September 24 last year.

The harassment lasted for almost one minute. No casualty was reported.

Brgy. Gatuslao, a mass-base area of insurgents belonging to Preparatory Front Party Committee 5 headed by Raniel Cellon, alias Ka Kumpol, is about 11 kilometers away from Candoni town proper, military records show.

Negros Occidental police director Charles Calima yesterday said the Gatuslao detachment harassment could be a ploy of the NPA to ease the pressure on their comrades in northern Negros, who are now the targets of combined military and police operations.

The New People's Army will mark its 27th founding anniversary on March 29.

Military and police units in Negros island were placed on heightened alert status, in anticipation of more rebel attacks.

"We are always ready for their attacks," Flores said.*GPB

back to top