Government troops in Sorsogon thwart NPA rebel’s plan to ambush government relief convoy operations to Samar-Leyte; two NPA commanders dead

o

Photo: 903rd Philippine Army

CASTILLA, SORSOGON, November 13 (PIA) – Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while one was apprehended following an encounter in Matnog, Sorsogon, at about 5:25 in the morning today at Barangay Bolacawe, Matnog town in Sorsogon.

Likewise five (5) powered firearms (HPFA’s), one Low Powered Firearm (LPA) and several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) were recovered during the said encounter between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Brigade Spokesperson 1Lt Bethany Q. Cadungan said that combined elements of 903^rd Infantry Brigade, 31^st Infantry Battalion (31IB), 96^th Military Intelligence Company (96MICO), Alpha Company of 22^nd Infantry (Cadre) Battalion and Matnog Philippine National Police (PNP) Unit in Sorsogon led by 1Lt Rory P Esico and 2Lt Linley Marl M Dajao figured in a clash with more or less 15 members of NPA believed to be members of Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsyal(Komprob) Sorsogon under Jesus Guelas @Gapa/Insoy.

The slain NPA rebels were identified as Ka Abel, Commanding Officer (CO) of Sorsogon NPA’s Probinsyal Yunit Guerilla (PYG) and Ka Win, CO of NPA’s Sentro De Gravidad (SDG).  The apprehended rebel who was critically wounded was identified as Peter Chija, 19 years old and resident of Gate, Bulan, Sorsogon.  The recovered firearms include three M16, one M14, one M653 rifles and one Caliber .45 Pistol.

Colonel Joselito E Kakilala, Commander of 903^rd Infantry Brigade exercising operational control over the operating troops said that the above mentioned combat operation was planned out and eventually conducted following the receipt of an information from a concerned civilian of the presence of fully armed NPA rebels in the area who were planning to conduct ambuscades to government convoys delivering relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the nearby provinces of Samar and Leyte particularly in Tacloban City as evident in the recovered IED’s.

“I am very grateful to the cooperation and support of the Sorsoganons to our peace and security efforts by voluntarily providing us with significant information about the Communist Terrorists’ (CT’s) violent activities in their communities.  I also recognize their deep concern on the plight of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda as manifested in their Samaritan spirit by ensuring the unhampered transport of relief goods to Samar-Leyte. This act also goes to show that the civilians desire to finally put an end to NPA atrocities in Sorsogon”, Colonel Kakilala said.

“I strongly make an appeal to the NPA rebels to set aside for a while their intentions to sow fear and terror to our fellowmen as this is not the right time for such violent acts.  I call upon them to freely allow and not to disrupt the government’s humanitarian and relief missions in Samar and Leyte as our fellow Filipinos there are in dire and immediate need of those support”, Colonel Kakilala concluded. (BARecebido, PIA-5/Sorsogon).