AFP's "Oplan Nazareth," a big failure
The grandiose "Oplan Nazareth" launched in Surigao del Sur by the Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division is a huge military failure. Contrary to the AFP's claims,
over 60 soldiers were killed, including two lieutenants, and an undetermined number wounded in encounters with the NPA from March to May.
The latest enemy casualty was 2Lt. Peter Vinluan of the 58th IB who was killed when the NPA attacked his detachment in Barangay Habag, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur on May 30. Another soldier was seriously wounded. 2Lt. July Ross Yandog, leader of one of the platoons of the 6th Scout Rangers Company combing Barangay Mahaba, Marihatag, had already been killed earlier. Yandog was hit by a sniper.
According to National Democratic Front-Mindanao spokesperson Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, the AFP used five Philippine Army battalions in "Oplan Nazareth" against the small number of Red fighters in Andap Valley which lies along the Marihatag, San Agustin, San Miguel, Lianga and Tago town borders. The escalating military campaign began on March 27 and ended on May 12.
Although the enemy enjoyed superiority in numbers and equipment, no one was killed or wounded on the side of the NPA. Its failure to crush the guerrillas has prompted the fascist military to unleash its fury on defenseless civilians. Over 4,000 people were forced to evacuate from the area from April 3 to May, and there were many reported cases of human rights abuses.
"Oplan Nazareth" was launched after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the area cleared to allow logging and mining operations by foreign capitalists. The people of the area strongly oppose these plans. Andap Valley was one of the areas in Mindanao where the "total log ban" has been revoked. Military campaigns are likewise intense in the other areas of the island that have been opened to foreign capitalists, such as the Caraga Region, Compostela Valley and the provinces of Davao and South Cotabato—Liguasan Marsh in particular, which has rich reserves of natural gas.