BY VICTOR REYES

A BOMB explosion, an ambuscade believed staged by the New People's Army, and a clash between government forces and the communist group were recorded yesterday in Masbate hours before President Arroyo's Cabinet meeting in the province.

The Cabinet meeting pushed through. Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said Arroyo's presence in the province despite the incidents showed her government's resolve to alleviate poverty in the countryside.

"PGMA wanted to send a strong signal that government will penetrate areas that are still pestered by insurgents to deliver needed basic services and to show the irrelevance of armed insurgency in the countryside," he said.

Brig. Gen. Celedonio Boquiren Jr., chief of the Presidential Security Group, said the NPA just wanted attention.

"We have our normal preparations. Alam mo naman mga rebelde, they like to discourage GMA from going to places where they are kasi when GMA visits, development follows," he said.

The improvised explosive device exploded around 2 a.m. in Banao village, Placer town which is about three kilometers from the town proper where the Cabinet was scheduled to meet.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta, commander of the 9th Infantry Division, said: "It's an improvised bomb in an isolated place."

He said no damage was incurred

In Mobo town some 90 km from Placer, NPA rebels ambushed government forces around 7:45 a.m. in Bagacay village.

Maj. Christopher Morales, spokesman, of the Army's 9th ID, said there were no casualties.

Morales said the soldiers led by one Lt. Bilog were in a civilian vehicle when the undetermined number rebels ambushed them.

Morales said the rebels could have staged the ambush to make their presence felt since the President will be in the province.