Friday, February 15, 2019

NPA arsonist killed, rebels injured in Laguna encounter

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 15, 2019): NPA arsonist killed, rebels injured in Laguna encounter 

CAMP GEN. MATEO CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal -- A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) communist terrorist group responsible for burning heavy equipment for a dam project  was killed in a military encounter Thursday in Sitio Pinamintian, Barangay San Buenaventura, Luisiana, Laguna.
 
Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., Commander of the 202nd Brigade, who directly supervises ongoing Focused Military Operation (FMO) to run after rebel arsonists, said government troops engaged the NPAs to a gun battle, killing one of them and injuring several others as evidenced by heavy traces of bloodstains at the encounter site. 
 
No one was hurt on the government side, as military offensives forced terrorist insurgents who dragged along wounded andsuspected dead comrades, as they fled towards different directions.
 
Military and police officials said their series of encounters are considered punitive actions against the NPA arsonists whose attacks to civilians and their properties are expected to cause delay in the ongoing construction of Kaliwa Dam and component road projects. 
 
The Kaliwa Dam, one of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure flagship projects is expected to bring development and provide livelihood for the people in the far-flung areas of Quezon and Laguna.
 
“Thursday’s encounter was the result of the 80th Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Jungle Fighter Company’s (2JFC) pursuit operations in Infanta, Quezon,” Burgos said. 
 
As of press time, government troops are continuing their ongoing pursuit operations against the terrorists, while checkpoints are heightened to collar the rebels lurking in the area.
 

UP student who allegedly joined NPA killed in clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 15, 2019): UP student who allegedly joined NPA killed in clash



A University of the Philippines Los BaƱos (UPLB) student, who allegedly joined the New People's Army (NPA), was killed in an encounter with the military on Thursday morning.

In a blog post by Citizen Today, the slain veterinary medicine student, John Carlo Capistrano Alberto, reportedly joined the NPA in January 2019, according to fellow students.

The encounter happened in Sitio Pinamintian, Barangay San Buenaventura, Luisiana, Laguna around 9 a.m., according to the blog, citing Army 2nd Infantry Division information officer Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban.

Two women NPA members were also wounded in the encounter.
The military seized from the NPA improvised explosives, detonator, tents, eight mobile phones, and a computer tablet.

In November 2017, another UP student, Josephine Lapira, allegedly a member of women's left-leaning group Gabriela, was also killed in an encounter.

Earlier, former NPA members called on students not to join the communist rebellion.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062030