PHILIPPINES BATTLE

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 13

PHILIPPINES BATTLE

f.X.Z.P.'A.-Reuter—Copyright' MANILA, July 12. Government troops, with air support, are engaged in battle with a New People’s Army force in the north-

ern Philippines province of Isabela.

According to the latest • reports, Government itroops are advancing, under tire, on the Communist guerrillas’ positions.

A Philippines Air Force plane has bombed suspected guerrilla positions in the area, destroying three huts and two bancas (canoes). About 1000 Government troops have been thrown into the Palanan area of the Isabela province, about 200 miles north of Manila, to destroy 200 troops of the New People’s Army—the military arm of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines—and up to 800 guerrilla supporters. A foreign vessel which is alleged to have been unloading arms for the guerrillas is reported to have been seized in the area. President Marcos has been accused in some quarters of exaggerating the gun-running incident for his own political gain. Senator Ramon Mitra, of the Opposition Liberal Party, told the Senate last night that the vessel was only a 25-ton Philippinesowned fishing boat. Military authorities have

| said that the vessel is the 100I ton. ocean-going Karagatan. !and President Marcos has said j that it could be evidence (that Philippines Communists ' have a link with foreign j sources of armaments and ' supplies.