THE New People’s Army in Bicol has launched separate attacks that killed one militia and wounded several others at Army detachments in the two Camarines provinces and the provinces of Albay and Masbate early this week, according to the report of the Philippine Army.

        The first attack of the NPA rebels happened at 9:00 p.m. at the headquarters of the 901st Infantry Brigade in Villa Hermosa, Daraga, Albay.

        According to the report, the NPA rebels used rifle grenades and automatic rifles in attacking the Army headquarters there. It said that no one was killed but four militias and three soldiers suffered minor injuries when a 40-millimeter grenade was exploded inside the camp.

        Army officials identified the wounded soldiers as sergeants Estrada and Pagao and Pfc. Rongab.

        At the time of the attack, only 45 soldiers were inside the camp because the rest of 500 soldiers stationed there were assigned to help evacuation of thousands residents around Mayon Volcano which is expected to have major eruption in the coming days.

        Army officials said the soldiers were able to fight back and repelled the attacking NPA rebels who withdrew to the direction of barangay San Ramon. They said the gunfight lasted about 15 minutes.

        Lt. Col. Roberto Morales, deputy commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, said the NPA rebels are taking advantage of the situation, knowing that the soldiers are evacuating residents around Mayon Volcano.

        At 9:40 p.m., the report said that the NPA rebels also attacked an Army militia base in Uson, Masbate but the details of the incident are yet to be received by Army officials.

        Later, at past 12:00 early morning Wednesday, the NPA rebels raided the Army detachment in San Jose, San Vicente, Camarines Norte. The gunfight lasted until 2:30 a.m.

        When the fighting stopped, one member of the Citizens Armed Geographical Unit (CAFGU), was accounted dead while four other militias were wounded and rushed to Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital.

        The NPA rebels planted landmines around the detachment, and detonated them, and torched the barracks where the soldiers and militias were sleeping.

        The NPA rebels took away a machine gun, according to officials of the Army’s Southern Luzon Command.

        At about 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, the withdrawing NPA rebels passed by a checkpoint in Basud, Camarines Norte and open fired at the soldiers manning it. One soldier was wounded.

        On Monday, some 15 NPA rebels abducted a certain PO1 Liberato Cesar assigned at Caramoan town in Cam. Sur.

        Lilias Cesar, wife of the abducted policeman, appealed to the communist rebels to release her husband, and asked them to give him another chance if ever he had committed wrongdoing.