MP Reds twit AFP for ‘lie’ on casualties

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Leonardo Pacsi Command-New People’s Army based in the province denied army claims they suffered many casualties during a firefight here on Jan. 27.

The claims NPA casualties were lies, according to Ka Magno Udyao LPC spokesman, who said NPA guerillas outmaneuvered operating troops of the 54th Infantry Battalion killing five troopers and wounding four others thus there was no casualty on the NPA side.

He said the guerillas opened fire 10: 30 in the morning at Mt. Bato here in Barangay Mainit surprising army troops led by 1st Lt. Victor Leopoldo.

An M-16 rifle, an ammo pouch, a telescope, and other military equipment reportedly were seized by the Red fighters.

Udyao said 5th ID commanding officer Brig. Gen. Rommel Gomez let loose a barrage of firepower on the area long after the NPA withdrew to safer grounds.

Up to three helicopters and one jet plane were reportedly utilized in the bombing runs, aside from mortars and possibly a 105mm howitzer.

“About 14 bombs and many mortar shells were indiscriminately dropped on the surrounding forests and fields for three days,” Udyao said.

Earlier on Jan. 23 and 24, simultaneous with the massive combat troop movements in upland Bonto, combat troops from the 50th IB reportedly entered the northern boundary of Besao and Sagada towns and took positions at Mt. Langsayan and Mt. Buasao.

Likewise, a unit of the 21st IB was observed in Sadanga. Last Jan. 11, Gomez reportedly gave the go signal to launch attacks against the NPA.

“Even as the LPC unit slipped past the military cordon to safe grounds, the 5th ID kept on airdropping troops at Mt. Lalangnan,” Udyao said.

“They can saturate the mountains with more troops, but there are enough pine trees to hide us,” he added. “The LPC deplores the 5th ID’s callous disregard for people’s welfare. With no clear targets, the volume of ordnance expended served more to instill fear on the population than to cause harm to the NPA.”

“The indiscriminate bombing and mortar shelling have damaged the water pipelines of Guinaang and Mainit. Damage to irrigation canals and rice paddies could not be determined yet.

Likewise, casualties on cows and carabao that grazed in the communal pasture lands between Sagada and Bontoc cannot be ascertained as yet.”

Meanwhile, Simon “Ka Filiw” Naogsan, spokesperson of the Cordillera People’s Democratic Front said, “The successful ambush highlights the failure of the Arroyo regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya 2. “It is a slap in the face of Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales’ pronouncement to reduce the NPA to an inconsequential level before Gloria Arroyo steps down in June.”

“The CPDF censures the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ spin masters, especially 501st Bde commanding officer Col. Remegio De Vera, for concocting claims of “numerous NPA casualties, He added.” Igorot military officers and foot soldiers must desist from being used as pawns in the national oppression of their fellow indigenous peoples.”