Army troopers pursue NPA rebs after encounter

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Army troopers are now pursuing New People’s Army guerillas in the boundaries of this tourist town, Besao and Bauko municipalities following a recent encounter.

An NPA guerillas was killed while an Army trooper was also wounded during the Black Saturday firefight between government troops and communist cadres in the boundary of Besao and Gorang, Bauko, not Balintaugan village in Bauko as earlier reported.

Col. Loreto Magundayao, chief of the civil-military relations of the Isabela-based Army’s 5th Infantry Division, earlier told newsmen the firefight came after patrolling soldiers from the 54th Infantry Battalion chanced upon around 10 rebels about 8:30 a.m. that day.

A firefight ensued for almost two hours before the rebels withdrew, carrying with them their casualties as seen by villagers in their route of withdrawal,” said Magundayao.

The identity of the confirmed NPA fatality is still unknown while the lone “slightly wounded” enlisted Army personnel was identified as Private First Class Wilbert Agabin.

The Army claimed that the fully-armed communist rebels whom they encountered belong to the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Guerilya-(Marco command) led by one Lupito Wigit, who, reports said is also known in the underground movement as Dalawa or Tumbas.

Recovered by government troops from the encounter site include two magazines for Armalite rifles and four backpacks with still undisclosed contents and personal belongings.