1 dead, 8 wounded in attacks by leftist rebels in Philippines

Leftist rebels in Philippines attacked 11 military and a police station in the Bicol region of northern Philippines in less than 24 hours, starting Sunday night, leaving one rebel dead and a police officer, a militiaman, and six civilians injured, the military said on Tuesday.

Citing reports from the field, Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the military's Southern Luzon Command, said eight of the attacks were launched by the New People's Army (NPA) in Sorsogon, from 4:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, targeting seven military detachments and a police station.

The attack on the installation of the Philippine National Police's 3rd Manuever Company of the 5th Regional Public Safety Battalion in Gubat town occurred at around 7:30 p.m Monday, resulted in the wounding of inspector Francis Camu.

Guzman said the rebels also attacked three military detachments in Albay, from 11:55 p.m. Sunday to 1:20 a.m. Monday.

One of the attacks targeted an Army Bayanihan team in Daraga town at around 7:48 p.m. Monday. Guzman said the rebels fired M203 grenade launchers on the military personnel.

The 12th rebel attack occurred at around 10 a.m. Monday, aimed at an army detachment in Sta Elena Village in Jose Panganiban town in Camarines Norte Province. The rebels positioned themselves about 300 meters away from the detachment.

Guzman said the attack resulted in the death of one of the rebels, identified as a team leader of the Propaganda Squad in NPA in the province; and wounding of one government militiaman.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign against the government in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.