Kalinaw News: 1 NPA member killed plus firearms captured in an armed clash

Posted to the Kalinaw News (Oct 19, 2020): 1 NPA member killed plus firearms captured in an armed clash (By 9ID)

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur-A fierce 15-minute gunfight that ensued between the government troops and members of NPA in Bulan, Sorsogon, Saturday, October 17 has resulted in the killing of another communist NPA terrorist.

According to the report, at around 11:10 in the morning, elements of 22nd Infantry Battalion (22IB) were conducting security operations upon receiving a tip-off from the residents of Barangay Taromata about the presence of armed group in the area, when they encountered at least 20 NPA. Seeing that one of their comrades was killed, the enemies scurried towards different directions leaving behind one caliber .45, one caliber .38, backpacks and terroristic propaganda materials.

LTC Henrito Managay, Commanding Officer of 22IB directed his troops not to put their guards down and continue to implement stringent measures against the NPA in the area to preempt any unlawful acts these terrorists are planning to do. MGEN HENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, Commander of Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) on the other hand, commended the troops for its relentless conduct of focused military operations which is very instrumental in sustaining the gains of the Army against the NPA in Sorsogon and recognized the help of concerned citizens for the prompt report.

However, at around 3PM of the same day, another armed clash broke out between the troops of 49th Infantry Battalion (49IB) and the NPA in Oas, Albay. The team was securing the Serbisyo Caravan in Barangay Mayag when they encountered undetermined number of NPA in Barangay Tobgon. During the firefight, communist terrorists detonated an anti-personnel mine killing one military personnel and wounding two others.

JTF Bicolandia strongly condemned NPA persistent use of anti-personnel mines which is a clear violation of Anti-Terrorism Law as well as the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and RA 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity. MGen. Robinson underscored that the attack against the troops who were tasked to secure the on-going Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) is an act of terrorism.

Furthermore, MGen. Robinson emphasized that it was NPA desperate way of retaliating because since the deployment of 49IB from Mindanao to Albay, the unit was able to gain the support of the communities to the extent that various Barangays conducted rallies to publicly condemn the terrorist group and passed resolutions declaring the NPA as persona non grata.

“Serbisyo Caravan is a multi-service caravan of all instrumentalities of the government and other civil society organizations offering free medical and dental services, census and birth registration, food packs distribution,registration of domesticated animals and distribution of seedlings and information drive about the different programs of national agencies among others. It ensures the efficacy of the Whole-of- Nation Approach under President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70). Takot ang NPA sa mga programang ganito dahil hindi na nila magagamit ang mga problemang kinakaharap ng ating mga kababayan para sa kanilang panlilinlang. Hindi totoong nais nila ng pagbabago; ang gusto nila ay manatili ang mga suliranin sa mga komunidad upang patuloy nilang gawing armas ang mga ito para siraan ang gobyerno at kumbinsihin ang mamamayan na umanib sa kanila. Hence, we encourage the public to continue denouncing the act of terrorism and report to us the presence of NPA in their area so that we can arrest, jail and have these terrorists pay for their crimes,” MGen. Robinson added.



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