By Mar Serrano | Philippine News Agency
LEGAZPI CITY – At least two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed while another one was captured as well as some war materiel were recovered in a clash with military and police troops in the remote village of Barcelona town, Sorsogon province on Christmas Day (Dec. 25), a military report said on Sunday (Dec. 26).
Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division public affairs chief, said combined elements from the Army and police responded to a call from residents of Barangay San Ramon about the presence of armed men in their village’s outskirts at around 8:30 a.m.
The encounter led to a running gun battle between the government troops and some 20 armed men that resulted in the death of one suspected rebel and the recovery of an M16 rifle and some anti-personnel land mines.
As the soldiers and policemen were pursuing the fleeing armed men, another firefight ensued, which led to the killing of one more suspected rebel and the capture of another.
Two M16 assault rifles and documents were also recovered by the government forces.
Belleza said the bodies of the slain rebels were turned over to the police for identification, while the captured rebel will be brought to the Army custodial facility for identification and investigation.
Last Dec. 17, four NPA members were also killed while six high-powered and short firearms and several explosives were seized in a clash in a town in Masbate province.
Army soldiers and police units in Bicol are on high alert for the Christmas holidays to thwart any possible tactical offensive by the rebel group in connection with the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA’s founding anniversary on Dec. 26.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA) – bny
