3 NPA rebels killed in separate Cagayan firefights

BUGUEY, Cagayan – Two fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a firefight with government troops in Brgy. Villa Cielo, Buguey, Cagayan on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Troops of the Philippine Army’s 95th Infantry Battalion, under the operational control of the 501st Infantry Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division (5ID), found two bodies after engaging 20 armed communist terrorists believed to be members of Komiteng Probinsiya-Cagayan, Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley (KOMPROB-KRCV).

According to Col. Ferdinand Melchor C. Dela Cruz, commander of 501IB, the clash took place at 3:30 PM after the joint troops responded to reports from the locals regarding the presence of NPA rebels in their area.

The clash has been the 8th armed engagement since the brigade under his leadership launched Focused Military Operations to put an end to the five-decade-old Communist Terrorism in the country.

There were already seven fatalities, four who surrendered, two wounded captured, and 17 high-powered firearms recovered since January 2023.

After the clash, the troops also recovered three high-powered firearms.

Meanwhile, on the same day, one was killed in a clash between the troops of 50th Infantry Battalion of the 503rd Infantry Brigade, 5ID, Brgy. Poswoy, Balbalan, Kalinga around 4PM.

An M16 rifle was recovered on the scene immediately after the firefight.#  Mae Barangan