Isabela encounter despite CPP-NPA ceasefire

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): Isabela encounter despite CPP-NPA ceasefire

Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz, Isabela -- Two soldiers and four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were wounded in a fierce gunbattle in the outskirts of Sitio Lumalog, Barangay Cadsalan, San Mariano, this province last Friday.

A belated report reaching this camp said yesterday that the encounter happened after a unilateral ceasefire was announced by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) upon the government’s declaration of a national state of calamity due to the adverse effects of super-typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”).

Second Lieutenant Charmaine B. Leonero, officer-in- charge of the Public Affairs Office of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said troopers led by 2Lt. Jomar C. Tinio were conducting security patrols when NPA rebels fired at them around 2 p.m. Friday in Sitio Lumalog.

“Our troops conducted the security operation to respond the reports from concerned civilians about the extortion activities of the NPA remnants in their locality,” Leonero said.

During the fierce firefight, soldiers overwhelmed the band of NPA rebels and forced them to retreat.

Civilian witnesses reported at least four rebels, three of them women, wounded in the encounter and that they had boarded a banca by the river.

Leonero identified two soldiers slightly wounded as Corporal Propecio Salmio and Private First Class Jestoni Alisto. They are now recuperating at this camp’s Station Hospital.

“Hot pursuit operations are being conducted by our operating troops to track down the withdrawing NPA rebels to assure safety and protection of the villagers in the area,” she said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/isabela-encounter-despite-cpp-npa-ceasefire/