BAGUIO CITY -- Troops from the 50th Infantry Battalion (50IB) of the Philippine Army scored another victory against the New People's Army (NPA) following a two-hour encounter in Balbalan, Kalinga province, the 5th Infantry Division public affairs office chief reported on Friday, November 10.
Captain Jefferson Somera said the government soldiers seized five high-powered firearms from the rebels after the gun battle that happened around 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Barangay Mabaca in Balbalan town.
He reported that no casualty was recorded on the side of the government troops composed of personnel of the 50IB. He, however, said they believed the NPAs suffered about five casualties based on the blood stains on the ground and the recovered firearms.
Following the encounter and after the rebels scampered from the scene, the government troops were able to recover three M16 rifles, one M653 rifle and one M14 rifle which were left at the site.
The government troops have launched a pursuit operation to track down the rebels.
Somera relayed the report of 50IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Martin Daiz Jr. that he dispatched his troops to verify the information provided by civilians about the presence of armed groups doing extortion activities, threatening and causing panic among the residents.
The 50IB of the Philippine Army has jurisdiction over the whole of Kalinga province.
Somera added that 5ID commander Major General Paul Talay Atal has relayed his commendation to the operating troops of the 50IB for the successful security operations in the area.
He said, “I commend the whole 50IB for their recent accomplishment. This effort once again proved your superiority against the enemy.”
Somera noted that Atal also said “while the NPA are intensifying their terroristic acts against the peace-loving people of Kalinga and the Cordillera, we will always be ready to protect them, and we will not fail them.”
Likewise, he said that the government is continuing its Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP), encouraging members of the left-leaning organization to return to the fold of the law and live peaceful lives.
The CLIP is the government’s assistance program for former NPAs, allowing them to live peacefully with their families.
Somera said that the government remains sincere in settling differences the peaceful way. “There is no substitute for peace,” he stressed. (PNA)
