Suspected NPA rebels attack Army base in Ecija

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Ten armed men believed to be New People’s Army (NPA) rebels fired at an Army patrol base in Bongabon town in Nueva Ecija on Monday but were repulsed by soldiers, the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) said on Tuesday.

The base of the 70th Infantry Battalion Cadre in Barangay Labi was attacked at 11 a.m., according to Nolcom spokesperson Maj. Ericson Bulosan.

At press time, the NPA has not owned up to the attack, which may be the first to be undertaken against a unit of the 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay, also in Nueva Ecija, in recent years.

Bulosan said no soldiers were hurt or killed in the gunfight. They were handling humanitarian and relief efforts following the weekend onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

The 91st Infantry Battalion was deployed to pursue the armed men, Bulosan added.