(Update) SOLCOM troops engage NPA rebels in 3 encounters in 1 day; sustain pursuit operations

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 7): (Update) SOLCOM troops engage NPA rebels in 3 encounters in 1 day; sustain pursuit operations

The Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had three separate clashes in just a day with the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels in Southern Tagalog and Bicol region on Monday.

In a report on Tuesday from the command headquarters here, SOLCOM information office chief Major Virgilio J. Perez Jr. disclosed that troopers of the 31st Infantry Battalion led by 2nd Lieutenant Niko Pendejito clashed with 15 NPA rebels at a sub-village Kabungahan in Trece Martirez, Casiguran, Sorsogon Monday morning.

Maj. Perez said that during the 15-minute firefight, Private First Class Mart Maximo Odsinada and Corporal Jerome Tiu were wounded.

Also on Monday afternoon, the 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company encountered an undetermined number of NPA rebels at a sub-village Bantulinao, Amutag in Aroroy, Masbate.

Perez said that the military recovered four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), ammunition for an M14 rifle, personal belongings and subversive documents left by the fleeing rebels after the skirmish.

Almost simultaneous with the Masbate encounter in the afternoon, soldiers from the 80th Infantry Battalion clashed with 10 NPA insurgents at a sub-village Lukutang Maliit, San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal.

The headquarters 202nd Infantry (Unifier) Brigade of the 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division (2ID) of the Philippine Army based in Cavinti, Laguna reported that they received information from the residents on the presence of the communist rebels.

“We will hit them hard,” SOLCOM Commander Lieutenant General Ferdinand F. Quidilla stressed following the directives from AFP Chief of Staff General Eudardo Año to intensify pursuit operations of the military units.

With the termination of the ceasefire and upon orders of the military hierarchy, Lt. Gen. Quidilla vowed to continue military offensive operations to decimate NPAs in the Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region.

Troops from the 80th Infantry Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Randolph G. Cabangbang, Battalion Commander, reported that their Alpha Company soldiers fought the estimated 10 NPA rebels in Rodriquez, Rizal sub-village Lukutang Maliit for about 10 minutes, causing rebels to scamper to different directions from the pursuing troops.

Lt. Col. Cabangbang said that after the firefight, the military recovered one magazine of ammunition and several subversive documents from the fleeing rebels.

2ID Commander Major General Rhoderick M. Parayno also declared sustained combat operations within the 2ID's area of responsibility in order to achieve peace and development.

"The enemies of the government shall expect massive combat operations as we are now more focused in protecting the people from any threat,” Maj. Gen. Parayno stressed, but added that the government forces “are still open for those NPAs who would like to return to the folds of law.”

Meanwhile, troops on the ground are still conducting pursuit operations to track down the fleeing enemies who continue to pose threat to the communities.

Colonel Glorivine R. Dida, Commander of 202nd Infantry (Unifier) Brigade and its operationally controlled units, also vowed to resume military offensives against the CPP– NPA in the CALABARZON region following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s pronouncement to terminate the government’s unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=961683