LEGAZPI CITY – Police and military troops clashed with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a remote village in Palanas, Masbate on Monday, leaving two rebels dead, the Philippine Army (PA) said.
In an interview on Wednesday, Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (ID) public affairs office chief, said support troops from the PA and Philippine National Police have so far spent more than 48 hours tracking down the 20-man NPA group.
The firefight lasted for 15 minutes, which resulted in the recovery of two bodies that were left by their comrades who fled in different directions.
No casualty was reported on the side of the government troops.
"As long as there are still indications of the presence of NPAs, the hot pursuit will continue. The joint military-police tracker group was scouring possible neighboring villages of the town where the rebels could have hidden," Belleza said.
He also said the bodies of the two rebels were brought to the town police station for identity and disposition.
Authorities also recovered an M16 assault rifle, a grenade, five anti-personnel mines, two claymore mines, 12 rifle magazines, 320 rounds of assorted ammunition, explosive and communication equipment, and personal belongings.
Belleza said the rebels on the run were reportedly involved in extortion, bombing, and the killing of police, military, and civilians in the province.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Maj. Gen. Alex Luna, commander of Joint Task Force Bicolandia, condemned the plans of communist terrorist group (CTG) to use of anti-personnel mines in Masbate.
“Kinokondena po ng pamunuan ng JTF Bicolandia ang mga tangkang panggugulo at pagsasamantala ng mga miyembro ng CTG sa lalawigan ng Masbate lalo na ang patuloy na paggawa at paggamit ng mga teroristang ito ng mga pampasabog na hindi lamang nakakasira ng mga pribadong ari-arian ng mga tao kundi nakakadagdag rin sa patuloy na banta sa mismong buhay ng mga Masbateño. Gaya ng nangyari noon sa mga Absalon at iba pang mga sibilyan na namatay at nasugatan dahil sa paggamit ng anti-personnel mines ng mga NPA (The JTF Bicolandia condemns the attempts of CTGs to destroy and exploit the province of Masbate by doing and using explosives that destroy private properties and threaten the lives of Masbateños. Like what happened with the Absalons and other civilians that were killed because of the NPAs' use of anti-personnel mines)," Luna added.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)
