Tuguegarao City, Cagayan — Police reported yesterday the killing of 15 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and wounding of five soldiers in the latest encounter between government troops and the communist guerrillas in this province last Friday.
Chief Superintendent Eliseo Rasco, regional director (RD) of the Police Regional Office-2 (PRO-2), said the encounter happened in the remote village of Balani in Sto. Niño municipality, this province as soldiers were on hot pursuit of the rebels behind an ambush of army troopers in the same town last Wednesday.
But Randy Malayao, consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), denied Rasco’s claim that 15 NPA members had been killed, calling it “an imagination.”
But Randy Malayao, consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), denied Rasco’s claim that 15 NPA members had been killed, calling it “an imagination.”
What is clear is that the NPA ambush in Sitio Lagum, Barangay Lipatan, Sto. Niño, last Wednesday resulted in the death of Private First Class (PFC) Roel Tabuada, an element of the Charlie Company of the army’s 17th Infantry Battalion and native of Tuao, this province.
Apart from the military fatality, five other soldiers were wounded – Sergeant (Sgt.) Antonio Abarriao Jr., Pfc. Recher Bas¬yagon, Sgt. Johndick Padua, Corporal Orly Camarao and one Villamor Bumussao.
Rasco said his men on the ground have witnesses, who had seen the NPA rebels carrying their 15 slain comrades and a number of wounded combatants while escaping through Barangay Balani.
Apart from the military fatality, five other soldiers were wounded – Sergeant (Sgt.) Antonio Abarriao Jr., Pfc. Recher Bas¬yagon, Sgt. Johndick Padua, Corporal Orly Camarao and one Villamor Bumussao.
Rasco said his men on the ground have witnesses, who had seen the NPA rebels carrying their 15 slain comrades and a number of wounded combatants while escaping through Barangay Balani.
It was also learned that Crispin Apolinario, spokesman of the NPA’s Danilo Ben Command, had called for a localized ceasefire with the government troops through a radio interview over the weekend.
ISABELA AMBUSH
Meanwhile, villagers in Isabela condemned the NPA over the killing of two soldiers on the road in Barangay Mabbayad, Echague town.
Corporals Daryl I. Camangeg and Virgilio E. Herrera, both members of the 86th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, were riding a motorcycle as advanced party to facilitate a meeting in promoting peace and order when they were ambushed by the rebels in Echague, Isabela.
ISABELA AMBUSH
Meanwhile, villagers in Isabela condemned the NPA over the killing of two soldiers on the road in Barangay Mabbayad, Echague town.
Corporals Daryl I. Camangeg and Virgilio E. Herrera, both members of the 86th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, were riding a motorcycle as advanced party to facilitate a meeting in promoting peace and order when they were ambushed by the rebels in Echague, Isabela.
In a recent manifesto, residents and barangay officials in Echague said that such move done by the NPA rebels belonging to the Benito Tesorio Command was against the development of the people in the countryside as well as against the will of God.
AFP APPEAL
In another development, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has urged the NPA not to attack soldiers who are helping in search and retrieval operations for victims of the quake that shook Surigao del Norte on Friday night.
In another development, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has urged the NPA not to attack soldiers who are helping in search and retrieval operations for victims of the quake that shook Surigao del Norte on Friday night.
“Allow the soldiers every opportunity to help the victims of the earthquake… We urge you not to attack our soldiers; or in any other ways disrupt the AFP’s rescue and rehabilitation activities for our people (in Surigao del Norte),” AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo said.
Major General Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., the 4th Infantry Division Commander, has deployed his men to assist the victims of the quake and conduct initial damage assessment for the use of national and local governments.
ERAP HOPES FOR PEACE
Meanwhile, former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada expressed hope that peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels would continue despite recent encounters.
In a press release issued on Sunday, Estrada said President Duterte was right when he suspended the unilateral ceasefire in response to the atrocities committed by the NPA in the past weeks.
The mayor also backed the government’s declaration of an all-out war against the NPA. He said the communists have all the reasons to fear Duterte’s wrath because the President never backs down from a fight.
“Hopefully, hopefully, dahil NPA naman ’to eh, hindi naman MILF. Iba ’to. Ang mga NPA, ang problema naman nila mga land reform lang talaga,” he said when asked if he supports another round of peace talks with the communist rebels.
He said he remains hopeful that both parties would return to the negotiation table.
Major General Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., the 4th Infantry Division Commander, has deployed his men to assist the victims of the quake and conduct initial damage assessment for the use of national and local governments.
ERAP HOPES FOR PEACE
Meanwhile, former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada expressed hope that peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels would continue despite recent encounters.
In a press release issued on Sunday, Estrada said President Duterte was right when he suspended the unilateral ceasefire in response to the atrocities committed by the NPA in the past weeks.
The mayor also backed the government’s declaration of an all-out war against the NPA. He said the communists have all the reasons to fear Duterte’s wrath because the President never backs down from a fight.
“Hopefully, hopefully, dahil NPA naman ’to eh, hindi naman MILF. Iba ’to. Ang mga NPA, ang problema naman nila mga land reform lang talaga,” he said when asked if he supports another round of peace talks with the communist rebels.
He said he remains hopeful that both parties would return to the negotiation table.
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