Kalinaw News: NPA slain in Mindoro after successive clash with gov’t troops

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jul 4, 2019): NPA slain in Mindoro after successive clash with gov’t troops

CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal- A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists group was killed after three successive encounters against the combined forces of the 76th Infantry Battalion, 203rd Brigade and the local police in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.

According to LtCol Mario Lito Retirva, Battalion Commander of the 76IB, the first encounter transpired around 5 A.M yesterday July 3, 2019 at Sitio Kipot, Brgy Loyal. It was followed by another firefight around 12 noon at Sitio Pamuwisan of same barangay.

After the 25 minutes exchange of gunfire on the second encounter, the troops recovered the body of Mervin Malucon alias “Ka Wally”; one (1) M14 rifle with 12 fully loaded magazines, assorted ammunitions for M60 machine gun, I.E.Ds, cellular phones, enemy subversive documents and other personal belongings were also taken from the enemies. Heavy bloodstains were seen on the enemy positions indicating the enemies suffered sevaral casulties.

Around 8:30 this morning July 4, 2018, another armed encounter happened in Sitio Lagpan, Brgy Villa Cerveza still at Victoria, wherein one (1) M16 rifle with bandoleer, one (1) back pack, three (3) I.E.Ds, assorted medicines and medical paraphernalia and other subversive documents were recovered by the troops. The firefight lasted for 15 minutes where the enemy again believed to suffered another csualties. No one was hurt on the government side.

The more or less 30 NPAs wee identified to be members of the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla ICM.

LtCol Retirva said the information of NPA presence came after a tip from concerned Mangyan (Indigenous Tribe in Mindoro) that the NPAs were recruiting and extorting the residence in the area which prompted them to take actions.

BGen Marceliano V Teofilo, 203rd Brigade Commander said “the successive encounters are clear manifestations that Mindoreños especially the Mangyan tribe don’t want their presence in their land. “They are already tired being forced by the NPAs to provide support and give in to their extortion demand. These NPAs are not pro-poor, they are actually exploiting the weaknesses of our IP brothers,” BGen Teofilo added.

Further, he once again called the attention of the progressive groups, Karapatan and NUPL to conduct investigation on the atrocities made by NPAs in Mindoro after burning the heavy equipment used for the developmental projects of Sta Clara Hydro Power plant and Martinez Construction Company in Naujan; the killing of Mr Kennedy Aquino, Jun-jun Ysog and Jose Barera, an IP Leader in San Jose; and in the kidnapping of an off-duty Cafgu Reynante Malupa. “Help us and their families achieve justice,” BGen Teofilo said.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Elias Escarcha, acting Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division Commander, lauded the troops and police recent accomplishment against the terrorists in Mindoro.

He reiterated his call to the NPA leaders and members to surrender and go back to the folds of the law and take advantage the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) of the government.

At present, hot pursuit operations of the Army and Police are on-going. The Philippine Air Force troops and air asset are also present in the area to help in crushing the terrorists group.

Division Public Affairs Office 2nd Infantry Division Philippine Army
Cpt Patrick Jay Retumban
Chief, DPAO, 2ID, PA
Camp General Mateo Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal
09772771986

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.]

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