NPA rebels fire at Army detachment

From The Daily Guardian (Mar 29, 2019): NPA rebels fire at Army detachment

The Philippine Army laughed off the New People’s Army (NPA)’s futile attempt to counter government forces’ offensive operations.

At around 2 p.m. of March 28, 2019, reports indicated that more or less 18 NPA fighters fired at the 61st IB’s CAA (CAFGU Active Auxiliary) Detachment at the boundary of barangays Agcalaga and Garangan in Calinog, Iloilo.

“It’s not even an armed engagement,” said Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot Jr., commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion.

The fully-armed persons believed to be members of the Iglabon Platoon of the NPA’s Central Front Committee – Komiteng Rehiyon Panay, allegedly positioned themselves 300 meters from the detachment.

The rebels immediately fled going to barangays Garangan and Masaroy in Calinog after the incident.

No casualty was reported on the government side.

“Sana sa susunod, lapitan naman nila. It only goes to show na wala talaga silang balak to engage with our soldiers,” Magbalot said.

He believes that the rebels mounted the attack so they will have something to celebrate during the 50th founding anniversary of the NPA today, March 29.

“But we, and they, know it’s an empty celebration. What happened was not even harassment. They just fired their guns at the detachment,” Magbalot said.

Last week, a series of encounters happened in Panay Island, particularly in the southern part of the province.

Major General Dinoh Dolina, Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division commander, said they took the clashes positively, since the government troops have been initiating the offensive operations against the rebels.

The 3rd ID had earlier vowed to pound on the rebels’ lairs in a bid to spoil their golden anniversary celebration.

The latest encounter happened between the 61st IB troops and suspected NPA combatants shortly after midnight of March 24, 2019 at Sitio Burak, Barangay Alimodias, Miagao.
It led to the killing of a certain Leonardo S. Seterra, a former barangay kagawad of Danawan, San Joaquin, Iloilo.

Prior to that, an encounter also occurred happened early morning of March 20 at Sitio Igburay, Barangay Indaluyon, Igbaras, Iloilo.

The first clash happened in Barangay Mulangan, Igbaras on March 17 and the other happened at Barangay Osorio 1, San Remegio, Antique on March 19.

Earlier, Magbalot has expressed alarm over the perceived “mass production” of IEDs of the NPAs that were left at the house of their militiamen.

Nine IEDs, weighing around nine kilos each, were seized following the March 17 encounter at Barangay Mulangan, Igbaras.

https://thedailyguardian.net/local-news/npa-rebels-fire-at-army-detachment/