Philippine troops kill 7 communist rebels in latest flare-up of decades-long insurgency
Army forces killed two New People's Army guerrillas in a clash last week in Masbate province and then caught up with the fleeing insurgents early Sunday in the hinterlands of Uson town where they killed seven of them in a 30-minute gunbattle, Maj. Frank Roldan of the army's 9th Infantry Division said. Seven assault rifles and two grenade launchers were recovered by troops at the scene of the battle. At least eight rebels managed to flee in different directions and were being pursued, Roldan said.
'We're in the final push,' Roldan told The Associated Press by telephone, saying about 50 armed guerrillas remain in the island province, a poverty-stricken agricultural region of more than 900,000 people. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said last week that less than 900 rebels remain, mostly in eastern rural regions, from the estimated 25,000 insurgent force at the peak of the 56-year insurgency, one of Asia's longest-running rebellions.
Saddled by battle defeats, surrenders, and factionalism, the guerrilla forces are on the brink of collapse, said Brig. Gen. Medel Aguilar, deputy commander of the military's Civil Relations Service. Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under previous President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations.
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Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
India, Philippines upgrade ties to strategic partnership on Marcos' Delhi visit
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Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Netanyahu Leaning Toward Seizing the Whole of Gaza
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Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Philippines, India hold first joint sail in South China Sea
The Philippine and Indian navies have sailed together for the first time in the South China Sea, officials said on Monday, as President Ferdinand Marcos left Manila for New Delhi for a state visit. The Philippines has conducted 'maritime cooperative activities' with foreign navies since late 2023 as part of its push to counter China's expansive claims in the waterway, including joint sails with treaty ally the United States, as well as Japan, Australia, France and Canada. Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said the idea for the two-day joint sail, which started on Sunday and was inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, came about when he met his counterpart in India in March. 'We did not experience any untoward incidents, but there are still those shadowing us - as we had already expected,' Brawner told reporters, without naming China. China's foreign ministry said in a statement that territorial and maritime disputes should be resolved between the countries directly involved and no third party should intervene. Indian navy ships that took part in the first joint sail of the two countries included guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, tanker INS Shakti and corvette INS Kiltan. The Philippines deployed two frigates, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal. The exercise coincided with Marcos' departure for a five-day trip to India, where he said he will look to deepen maritime ties and seek cooperation on sectors including defense, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with maritime zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The waterway is a strategic shipping route where $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce takes place. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal found Beijing's sweeping claims have no basis under international law, a decision China rejects.
