MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 25 December) — Explosions from artillery and aerial bombardment awakened residents in Barangay Can-ayan and neighboring areas in Malaybalay City at around 3 a.m. on Christmas Day when the 403rd Infantry Brigade launched an operation against the New People’s Army (NPA).
In an interview over RMN Malaybalay and iFM 95.3 Bukidnon Monday morning, Brig. Gen Michelle Anayron Jr., commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade said the operation was launched in the mountainous part of Can-ayan.
An early morning scene along the main road in Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay City in this photo taken June 11, 2023. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO
Anayron said they have been monitoring the presence of NPA rebels in the area for several days and the ongoing operation aims to dissuade the rebels from doing anything that could disrupt the Christmas celebration.
He added that the military is also preparing in anticipation of what the rebel group might do on December 26, the 55th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Some residents of Malaybalay posted on social media that loud explosions coming from artillery and aerial bombardment could be heard in sitios Kilap-agan, Taguican Valley, Tintinaan, Encalbog, Tag-ilanao, and Kiito, all in Can-ayan and in other parts of the city.
Fighter planes could be heard flying over Can-ayan, they added.
They said the explosions lasted from 3:00 a.m. to around 4:30 a.m.
Around 12 noon, the 8th Infantry Battalion, which is under the 403rd Infantry Brigade, posted on its Facebook page that they have killed nine NPA members and seized six high-powered firearms.
It said government troops are “still searching the area for clearing and possible rescue operations” of wounded rebels.
Earlier, the CPP ordered its guerrilla forces to suspend for two days their offensives against the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police units all over the country.
CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena, in his-emailed statement to news organizations nationwide, said the suspension of guerilla actions would be from 12:01 midnight of December 25 to 11:59 pm of December 26.
Valbuena said the two-day unilateral ceasefire would mark the underground party’s 55th anniversary on December 26. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno / MindaNews)
