2 NPA guerrillas killed in another Bontoc clash

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Government forces killed April 2 a leader of the New People’s Army and a “female NPA amazon” operating in the tri-borders of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur provinces known as the AMPIS area during an encounter that started here early last week.

In Camp Dangwa, Benguet, Chief Supt. Isagani R. Nerez, regional police director identified only one fatality as Daniel Pinading Alunday a.k.a. “Tikid,” team leader of the NPA’s Squad 2, West Chico Line of the Kilusang Larangan Guerilla Marco Command operating in Mountain Province.

Alunday was reportedly brought down to Barangay Dalican here afternoon of April 6, upon request of relatives, facilitated by the Cordillera People’s Alliance and later brought to Balbalan, Kalinga.

Another NPA guerrilla was also wounded during operation conducted by police and military units, Nerez said.

But according to Ruel Tabliago, information officer of the 54th IB, another female NPA member was killed during the encounter.

Tabliago said elements of the 54th infantry battalion and Mt Province police provincial office clashed with the NPA at vicinity of Bandung Hill, at Barangay Dalican here  around 3 pm on April 2.

The engagement lasted more than an hour, reportedly led to wounding of several NPA guerillas.  One wounded in the government  side identified as  PO1 Manuel Dagsan was reportedly now in stable condition.

Tabliago said Alunday was a native of Poswoy, Balbalan Kalinga.

He added as of  April 5,  elements of the 50th IB  also encountered around 30  NPA in  Baklingayan,  Tabakdo, Tubo,  Abra. Pursuit operations are reportedly ongoing.

Lt Col Eddie Pilapil commanding officer of the 54th infantry battalion expressed his sympathies to the families of the fallen rebels saying,  “only through peace can development and social justice be attained. We encourage our brothers in the NPA to lay down their arms and take advantage of the government’s  integration program. There are many ways to solve our problem and fighting is not one of the solutions”.

This, as Nerez said government forces were conducting operations are press time to rid the tri-boundary of rebel forces. 

Nerez said despite sustaining casualties during their operation against the insurgents on March 29, where two were killed and two were wounded, they are determined to bring justice to the victims and flush the NPA guerillas out from the area.

Two weeks ago, while police were advancing to another NPA camp, a firefight took place that resulted to the injury of PO1 Emmanuel Dagsan, a member of the Mountain Province Public Safety Company who sustained a gunshot wound on his right thigh.  

He was immediately rushed to the Baguio General Hospital for medical treatment.      

At present, operating personnel were still pursuing NPA guerillas and  trying to drive them away from a forested area to capture another training camp of the communist rebels.