Soldier, 5 rebels killed in Nueva Ecija clashes

By Liam Anacleto

BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – A soldier was killed while two others were wounded when New People’s Army guerillas ambushed their convoy in Barangay Labi here, the Army’s 7th Infantry Division reported.

“This week alone, a total of six armed engagements occurred resulting to five killed and several others wounded of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army.” the 7th ID said.

Two squads led by Staff. Sgt. Edwin Lapitan and Sgt. Antonio Pablo of the 71st Infantry Battalion on board an M-35 truck had left Barangay Decoliat, Ma. Aurora and was on its way to Barangay Labi, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija when they were reportedly waylaid by the NPA on Jan. 31.

“The soldiers gallantly fought back and observed tactical standard operating procedures in order to escape the tight situation they were caught in, one of them was killed and two others were wounded,” said an army report.

Some NPA guerrillas were reportedly wounded before they fled to an “unknown direction.”

Reinforcing troops coming from the 703rd Brigade and helicopters from the Northern Luzon Command were immediately deployed to the area,” it added.

Lt Colonel Melquiades Feliciano, commander of the 71st IB said the NPA was believed to have “carried out this retaliation against government troops because of the series of setbacks they suffered from the relentless operations of the military.”

He said starting on Jan. 26, his soldiers engaged the rebels in a series of gunfight in Ma. Aurora town in Aurora province where one rebel was killed and one M-16 rifle was seized by government troopers.

The 7th ID said earlier, its 702nd IB has also “heightened internal security operations in the tri-boundaries of Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya.

This led to a series of clashes between government forces and the NPA. Clashes occurred in various parts of Ma. Aurora in Aurora, and Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the 702nd IB, appealed to the NPA to lay down their arms and join mainstream society. “The Social Integration Program of the government awaits those who will take the path of peace.”

Bautista said the military will reward rebels who surrender their arms. He said “as much as P120,000 or more, could be made available to them depending on the number and type of firearms surrendered.”