Army soldier slain in clash with NPA in Rizal

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 1, 2021): Army soldier slain in clash with NPA in Rizal (By: Delfin T. Mallari Jr.)

TRIBUTE A tribute to slain Private First Class Warren Fold Montebon from the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion, who was killed in a clash with communist rebels in Rodriguez, Rizal on September 30, 2021, is posted on the Facebook page of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.

An Army soldier was killed in an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Rodriguez town in Rizal province on Thursday, September 30.

The Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2nd ID) based in Tanay, Rizal identified the slain soldier as Private First Class Warren Fold Montebon from the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion.

Montebon was in a group of soldiers who engaged an estimated 20 communist guerrillas in a fierce battle in Barangay Puray on Thursday, the 2nd ID said a report posted on social media late Thursday.

The time of the encounter was not specified in the report but it said the NPA rebels retreated after one hour and 10 minutes of firefighting.

“The rebels were once again repelled but came with the ultimate sacrifice of one of our brothers in arms PFC Warren Fold N Montebon (Inf) PA. We salute you,” the 2nd ID said.

In a tribute to their fallen comrade, the 2nd ID posted a card with Montebon’s photo along with a tribute to all 2nd ID soldiers who died in battles: “Their ultimate sacrifice shall serve as an inspiration to keep the flame of service burning in every Jungle Fighter’s heart.”

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Earlier on September 28, the military recovered a cache of ammunition and explosives from alleged NPA rebels in General Nakar town in Quezon province, according to the same Army division.

The 2nd ID, in a report also posted on social media on Thursday, said soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion recovered 15 anti-tank mines, 20 anti-personnel mines, and 340 rounds of Caliber .30 machine gun ammunition that were hidden in Sitio (sub-village) Madaraki in Barangay (village) Umiray.

General Nakar town is located in the northern part of Quezon province at the slope of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges where communist guerrillas operate.

“The said munitions are all very powerful and could have had a very debilitating effect on anyone to include and especially the civilians in the area when fabricated into an improvised explosive device or IED,” the 2nd ID report said.

The military assailed the NPA’s for its alleged continuous use of banned explosives that violate International Humanitarian Law.

“Yet despite the call for them to refrain from using such weapons, they continue to manufacture IEDs that wantonly show their violent and inhumane nature,” the military said.

The report said the recovery of the NPA’s weapons was a result of information that was tipped off to the Peace Law Enforcement and Development (PLEDS) cluster composed of 1st IB and local police forces under the supervision of General Nakar Mayor Eliseo Ruzol Sr., head of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-Elcac).

The 2nd ID quoted Rozul’s appeal to his constituents to continue supporting the government’s peace programs.

On August 26, at least 46 NPA supporters in General Nakar town turned their backs on communist insurgents, according to the 2nd ID. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1495539/army-soldier-slain-in-clash-with-npa-in-rizal