7 killed in NPA-AFP clash in Abra

From The Daily Tribune (Sep 5): 7 killed in NPA-AFP clash in Abra

At least seven New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, one of them a ranking commander, were killed while several high-powered firearms were seized by military troops following an intense clash in Abra province yesterday.

Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, commander of the 1st Civil Relations Group (CRG), said that the firefight between elements of the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion (IB) and about 50 NPA band was still ongoing as of noontime yesterday.

According to Garcia, the cash erupted at around 5:40 a.m. after the Army troopers discovered an NPA camp along Barangay Guinguinabang in Lacub town.

As of press time yesterday, Garcia said that at least seven NPA rebels had been killed while six firearms were recovered.

One of those killed was identified as Arnold Jaramillo, alias Ka Mando, tagged as secretary of the NPA’s Abra Provincial Party Committee.

Among the seized firearms were two M653, two M16 rifles, a Carbine, one Garand rifle and a caliber .45 pistol and two Icom radios.

Garcia said that the Army troops, led by Capt. Dionizer Mark de los Santos, were conducting combat operation in Lacub town when they saw about 50 rebels, including around 15 amazons, at the NPA camp equipped with high-powered firearms.

“The firefight stemmed from earlier reports from local populace about the presence of armed men passing through some villages collecting foodstuff, money and enticing young folks to go with them and gravitating at an undisclosed place which was validated by many sources and other local residents which prompted the authorities to conduct security patrol to protect the local populace,” said Garcia.

“The NPA remnants were believed to be conducting training with their newly recruited members from neighboring provinces which is being facilitated by Jaramillo,” he added.

There was no reported casualty on the government side.

Close air support was provided to the engaged troops.

“The firefight and the death of the seven NPA remnants is a sad development but our troops have to protect our people,” said Lt. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., commander of Northern Luzon Command.

“We offer our sympathy to the relatives of those killed in the encounter but we renew our call for them to surrender, go back to the mainstream society and be productive citizens,” he added.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/7-killed-in-npa-afp-clash-in-abra