Abra clashes rage on; 10 killed including female NGO engineer

By Freddie G. Lazaro

LACUB, Abra–Army troopers and communist guerillas are still doing tactical operations on mountains here poised for more clashes even as death toll from recent clashes reached 10 including an army trooper and a civilian.

The longest of the series of encounters started Sept. 5 at 9:35 p.m. and ended 5 a.m. the next day here at the boundary of the town proper and the village of Guinguinabang

Rebels ambushed army troopers transporting the body of a rebel slain in the Thursday encounter, killing Private First Class (PFC) John Kevin Manuel, of the army’s 41st Infantry Battalion (41IB), said Lt. Col.Virgilo Noora, 41IB commander.

Caught in the crossfire was civilian Noel Viste, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Lacub, who died on the spot, added Noora.

He said two other NPA rebels were killed in the overnight gun battle.

Noora also confirmed that three soldiers were wounded and identified them as Corporal Gilbert Ba-awa, and PFCs James Ericson Danao and Randy Sayaan.

“The wounded soldiers are now being treated in a hospital in Bangued, Abra,” Noora said.

Another civilian, engineer Fidela “Delle” Salvador,  staff of Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera and CORDIS, both nongovernment organizations was also killed allegedly by military troops during operation in  Lacub participated in mainly by the 41^st Infantry Battalion deployed in the area.

A CDPC press statement said Salvador was in the area to oversee livelihood projects of their NGO when she was killed.   

“Aside from Engr. Delle, Noel Viste  – another civilian of Poblacion, Lacub was killed in the said military operation.  Noel Viste was among the 24 civilians who were coerced by the 41^st IB as human shields in the conduct of their operation,” the statement said.   

“Delle was on a monitoring visit for various socio-economic projects implemented by CORDIS in Lacub when she was killed. Delle was a civilian and a non-combatant. She had dedicated most of her life, her skills and expertise in bringing much-needed services to the neglected, far-flung communities in the Cordillera. She was a staunch advocate of indigenous peoples’ rights, a strong believer in peace and human rights.” 

The Army reported captured firearms from rebels increased to 15 after the soldiers recovered M16 and M14 rifles in the last encounter.

Six NPA rebels were killed when the encounter broke out morning of Sept. 5 while 13 high-powered guns were recovered.

On Sept. 4, soldiers from the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion clashed with around 50 rebels in Guinguinabang. The encounter left five insurgents dead. 

Five NPA rebels, one of them a ranking leader of the insurgent group, were earlier killed in the Sept. 4 clash.

Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, commander of the Army’s 1st Civil Relations Group (CRG), said eight firearms were recovered that day by the soldiers from the Maoist rebels.

According to Garcia, the gunbattle broke out around 5 a.m. at Barangay Guinguinabang.

Killed was Arnold Jaramillo alias “Ka Mando”, secretary of the Abra provincial party political committee and NPA leader in the province.

Garcia said Army troops from the 41st Infantry Battalion led by Captain Dionizer Mark D. Delos Santos were conducting combat operation in said barangay when they discovered a temporary encampment of the rebel group.

There were reportedly about 50 fully-armed NPA members, including at least 15 females, in the encampment which is reportedly being used as a training site for the new recruits of the rebel group.

Prior to the firefight, the military received reports from the local populace about the presence of armed men passing through some villages collecting foodstuff, money and enticing young folks to go with them.