Gov’t troops recover firearms after clash with rebels in Apayao
By Redjie Melvic M. Cawis
BAGUIO CITY, March 15(PIA) – Government troops have recovered firearms, medical items other personal effects and supplies following clashes with suspected New Peoples Army rebels in Flora, Apayao on Sunday (March 14).
In a report by the 17th Infantry Battalion, some 17 IB personnel, Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 and members of the Apayao PPO had an encounter with members of the NPA at Barangay Mallig and in Sitio Tawini, Barangay Upper Atok, both in the municipality of Flora.
The military personnel were conducting combat operation in barangay Mallig following reports of residents that NPA rebels were conducting extortion activities in the community when they were fired upon by at least 20 members of the terrorist group.
The NPA members retreated after the fire fight that lasted for more than 15 minutes, then they were tracked down at Sitio Tawini, Barangay Upper Atok where another clash occurred forcing the rebels to retreat in the mountainous area.
In the clearing operation, troopers recovered three M16A1 and 5.56mm M653 rifles along with medical items, documents, back packs and other personal effects and supplies left by the rebels at the encampment area.
The 17th IB said those involved in the fire fight were members of the West Front Committee, Komiteng Probinsya Cagayan, Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley.
Apayao Provincial Police Office Director PCol. Peter Tagtag said the encounter site is among the identified Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict or ELCAC areas in Apayao. The local government unit of Flora has declared the CPP-NPA-NDF as Persona Non Grata and also condemned the atrocities of the terrorist group in the municipality.
Lt. Colonel Angelo C. Saguiguit, Commanding Officer of the 17IB, thanked the members of the community in Flora for informing authorities of the presence and the activities of the terrorists groups that lead to the immediate operation to stop the atrocities in the community.
“Ang mga pangyayaring may kaugnayan sa seguridad at katahimikan ng ating komunidad ay hindi lamang trabaho ng kasundaluhan at kapulisan bagkus ito ay nakaatang rin sa bawat mamamayan dahil tayong lahat ay apektado sa anumang karahasan o kaguluhan na kanilang isasagawa sa ating mga komunidad. Nararapat lang na tayo’y magtulungan upang mapangalagaan at mabantayan natin ang katiwasayan sa ating mga lugar lalong-lalo na para sa ating mga anak. Sana ay magpatuloy ang ganitong pagtutulungan natin upang tuluyan ng mawasakan ang problema sa insurhensiya,” Saguitguit said.(JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)
