Kalinaw News: Terrorist NPA in Northern Luzon crumbles as the Philippine Army celebrates 124th Anniversary

Posted to Kalinaw News (Mar 25, 2021): Terrorist NPA in Northern Luzon crumbles as the Philippine Army celebrates 124th Anniversary



CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela- The intensified campaign of the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army against insurgency resulted in the downfall of the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Region.

Through the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 or the Whole-of-Nation Approach, the people unite in Ending the Local Communist Armed Conflict in their communities. The residents in Region 02 and Cordillera denounced the existence and atrocities of the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF and declared them as Persona Non Grata.

On March 14, 2021, the residents of Barangay Mallig, Flora tipped-off the presence of the terrorist CPP-NPA in their barangay wherein the troops of the 17th Infantry Battalion under 501st Infantry Brigade immediately conducted security operations that led to a 15-minute firefight against the members of West Front Committee, Komiteng Probinsya Cagayan (KOMPROB CAG), Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley (KR-CV). The terrorist group dispersed into small groups after the said armed engagement. An hour later, another encounter ensued that lasted for about 30 minutes when the troops responded to the information shared by the residents about the presence of the armed group at Sitio Tawini, Barangay Upper Atok in the same town. This also made the members of the terrorist group to scatter and jumped off the ravines. Through the cooperation of the citizens, the operating troops were able to engage the fleeing terrorist CPP-NPA at Sitio Bulo, Barangay Aurora, Pudtol, Apayao, forcing them to swiftly escape from the pursuing government troops on March 17, 2021. The series of encounters in the province of Apayao resulted in the recovery of three M16A1 rifles, one 5.56mm M653 rifle, medical kits, foodpacks, subversive documents, and backpacks containing personal belongings. This also led to the surrender of a CPP-NPA Child Warrior identified as Alias James, 17 years old, to the government forces after the encounter.

In Isabela, Rosalio V Canubas alias Yuni, Commander of the Regional Operations Command (ROC) and the Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG), KR-CV of the terrorist CPP-NPA was killed during an encounter between the troops of 86th Infantry Battalion under 502nd Infantry Brigade and the terrorist group in San Mariano Sur, San Guillermo on March 15, 2021. During the encounter, the NPA leader was fatally hit and his comrades brought him to Barangay Dingading of same municipality in an attempt to hide him from the pursuing government troops. The fleeing NPAs buried him in a shallow grave in the hinterlands of the said barangay. The pursuing troops were able to locate where they buried the NPA leader through the continuous information shared by the locals. In coordination with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and PNP San Guillermo, the government troops exhumed the cadaver on March 17, 2021. This also resulted in the confiscation of two long magazines with 23 ammunitions of 5.56 mm firearm, one anti-personnel mine, 70 meters wire, one blasting cap, one detonating cord, and one motorcycle battery.

Additionally, a top-ranking terrorist NPA couple died in an encounter between the troops of 50th Infantry Battalion under 503rd Infantry Brigade and the terrorist CPP-NPA on March 15, 2021, in Sitio Babacong, Barangay Gawa-an, Balbalan, Kalinga. After the encounter, the members of terrorist CPP-NPA dispersed leaving the cadaver of Rudy Daguitan alias Pinpin, Political Officer/Instructor of Komiteng Larangang Guerilla (KLG) Baggas of the Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee. Due to the information provided by the residents regarding the alleged death of one of the NPA members after the encounter, the troops searched the vicinity of Barangay Gawa-an where they found the cadaver of Nora Miguel alias Gemay, Medical Officer of KLG Baggas and the wife of alias Pinpin on March 17, 2021. Aside from the recovery of the cadaver, Defender troops also seized the encampment of the terrorist CPP-NPA and one firearm.

After the series of encounters, the members of the terrorist CPP-NPA were confused and demoralized. 13 members and supporters of the terrorist CPP-NPA surrendered in Baggao, Cagayan on March 18 wherein they surrendered one M11 9mm Ingram firearm. Two teenage warriors of the rebel group also yielded to the government forces on March 19, 2021, in San Mariano, Isabela. According to them, the withdrawal of support of the masses made it even harder for them to seek safe refuge from the pursuing Startroopers.

Meanwhile, ₱5 million pesos worth of Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) was granted to 77 former rebels of Isabela through the Department of Interior and Local Government Region 2 on March 16, 2021.

MGen Laurence E Mina PA, Commander of 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army said that the Startroopers will press on the fight to finish off the CPP-NPA in Cagayan Valley and Cordillera. “We will not stop until we achieve lasting peace and progress in the area. With the strong partnership of the different government agencies, Local Government Units and the support of the people, we have come closer to realize our common goal of ending the local communist armed conflict. We are again calling the remaining members of the rebel group to return to the folds of the law and choose to live a better life.

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