Rebels Control Peninsula, Says Philippine Sen.

The army today sent an elite battalion to a southern peninsula 100 miles from Manila where, a senator said, communist rebels were in virtual control and reportedly planning to set up a “clandestine government.”

Sen. Victor Ziga told the Senate that the Bicol Peninsula is “in enemy hands.”

“Unconfirmed reports are filtering into my office that serious efforts are now being undertaken to establish in the Bicol region the seat of a clandestine government,” Ziga said.

“A provisional government could be established to centralize warlike operations, and this would be fatal to the government’s efforts to contain the enemy.”

Members of the 23,000-strong rebel New People’s Army, in a major offensive that began last week, blew up bridges and attacked isolated military outposts, cutting off major rail and road access to Bicol, only 100 miles south of the capital.

Land access to the 150-mile-long peninsula is now limited to one hazardous mud-choked road and flights are booked more than a week in advance.

Gen. Fidel Ramos, the armed forces commander, who made a short visit to Bicol today, ordered troops of the elite Scout Rangers dispatched as reinforcements to the area.

On the central island of Leyte, 350 miles south of Manila, troops were also fighting NPA rebels, a regional commander said, and at least 70 communist rebels and 10 soldiers had been killed in a six-day gun battle. About 100 communist guerrillas were holding out in a cave, he said.

Ramos called for unity between civilians and soldiers to fight the communist insurgency.

“Civilian and military authorities must work together to stem the offensive,” Ramos said. “We can still handle the situation,” he said.