Soldiers, NPA rebels clash in Lopez, Quezon

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12, 2019): Soldiers, NPA rebels clash in Lopez, Quezon

CAMP GEN. CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal -- A band of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels was reported to have suffered heavy casualties following a 10-minute skirmish with government troops Tuesday afternoon in the boundaries of Barangays Villa Nacaob and Binahian C, in Lopez, Quezon.

Reports reaching this camp here on Wednesday said troops from the 21st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) came face to face with the rebels around 3:30 p.m., after soldiers responded to civilians’ tip about the presence of NPAs extorting rice and money from residents.

Lt. Col. Arnold Gasalatan, commanding officer of the 85IB said no one was hurt on the government side but bloodstains in the rebels' position strongly indicate casualties on their side.

Gasalatan said the terrorists, who belong to the Platoon Sol of the Sub-Regional Military Area (SRMA) 4B, probably carried away their wounded comrades as they fled the scene of the clash.

He said the troops were conducting their Focus Military Operation (FMO) in the area when tipped by civilians about the rebel-terrorists’ extortion activities, prompting soldiers to scour the area, which led to the brief but intense gun battle.

As of posting time, troops have been conducting operations in pursuit of the fleeing rebels and have set up checkpoints with the help of local police, in a bid to flush out the rebels.

Meantime, Col. Norwyn Romeo Tolentino, commander of the 201st Infantry Brigade who has operational jurisdiction over Quezon province, commended the troops for their speedy response thus thwarting the NPA extortion activities.

He also called on the remaining communist terrorist group members to surrender and cooperate with the government.

“We will be relentless on our combat operations to protect the people against all NPA threats, coercion, extortions and killing of innocent civilians,” Tolentino warned.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1072172