Saturday, June 30, 2012

13 NPA rebels killed in clashes with Army soldiers, 15 firearms seized



FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City-- A total of thirteen communist rebels were killed in two separate clashes with Army soldiers today.

The first clash erupted in Mambog village, Botolan town in Zambales at around 5:30am involving the troops of the 24th Infantry Battalion led by Lt Col Michael Samson against 12 heavily armed rebels who were conducting extortion activities in the village.

Samson said that the rebels were collecting extortion from the villagers, prompting the latter to report the presence of the rebels through text message.

Two rebels were killed after the 20-minute clash, while the rest of the rebels scampered away towards various directions. A certain Lito Collado a.k.a. Ka Warry sustained a bullet wound in his leg and was evacuated by the soldiers towards a local hospital.

The soldiers recovered 2 M14 Assault Rifles, 2 M16 Assault Rifles, a shot gun and other war materials.

Col Gregorio Catapang, the Commander of the 703rd Infantry Brigade,  disclosed that Collado is facing criminal cases for the burning of a Victory Liner bus and the Red Dragon Farm in Tarlac Province last year. He said that the suspect will be turned over to the police after being treated.

At around 11:10am (June 30), troops of the 74th Infantry Battalion led by Lt Col Dennis Perez, encountered at least 15 rebels in Quezon Province.

Perez said that the clash erupted in Sitio Makuyo-kuyo, White Cliff village of San Narciso town when his soldiers chanced upon at least 15 rebels led by a certain Ka Edel.

Eleven rebels were killed, while two soldiers were slightly wounded in the firefight which lasted about 30 minutes.

The soldiers confiscated 8 assorted firearms including 5 M16 Rifles, 1 M203 Grenade Launcher, 1 M79 Grenade Launcher and a homemade shotgun.

The dead rebels were transported towards San Narciso town to be turned-over to the local officials. Pursuit operations have been launched to locate the remnants of the bandit group who are extorting money from the residents.

The series of clashes today followed the earlier firefight which occurred in Bgy Talbek, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya late afternoon yesterday, July 29.

Brigadier General Alan Luga, the Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, said that a team of soldiers belonging to the 81st Infantry Battalion clashed with at least 7 rebels at around 5:30pm.

The rebels immediately fled after a brief exchange of fires with the soldiers, leaving behind an M16 Rifle. Another M14 rifle was discovered by the pursuing troops at around 8:00am today (June 30).

Army to 'win the peace' through Bayanihan

Lt Gen Emmanuel Bautista, the Army chief, said that he has directed his troops to pursue Bayanihan in their respective areas of responsibility.

He 
called on the rebels to lay down their arms and abandon the use of armed violence as a way of solving various problems in the community.

"It is only by helping each other that we can move forward as a nation. The soldiers are your willing partners in bringing lasting peace in our land," said Bautista.

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