4 soldiers hurt in clash with NPA rebels in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – Four soldiers were wounded in an encounter with an alleged band of communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Infanta town in Quezon province Friday, the military said.

Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban, public affairs chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the clash consequently pre-empted another plan of the Maoist-inspired guerrillas to derail the construction of a road leading to the proposed P18.7-billion Kaliwa Dam project in the Sierra Madre section in northern Quezon.

Quoting the police report, Retumban said the encounter happened in Barangay Magsaysay around 8 a.m.

“Initial reports indicate that four government security forces were wounded while massive losses are expected on the enemy side based on the heavy bloodstains along their withdrawal route after the 30-minute firefight,” the report said.

The wounded soldiers, whose identities are being withheld pending notification of their respective families, have been evacuated for treatment. Fresh troops have been deployed to pursue the fleeing communist rebels.

The encounter site was about three kilometers away from the base of the Northern Builders Corp., which was recently attacked by communist guerrillas, the report said.

During the attack last month, the NPA rebels burned several heavy equipment owned by the said company that was constructing a road leading to the dam project of the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System.

READ: Suspected NPA rebels torch heavy equipment in Quezon

Lt. Colonel Christopher Diaz, commander of the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion, said the military operation on Friday was launched after they received information from concerned citizens and informants that the rebels will again attack the base of the construction company and burn more heavy equipment.

“The encounter is a result of our continuing operations to punish the enemies of the state who are terrorizing helpless private companies who refuse to give in to their extortion demands,” said Brig. General Arnulfo Burgos Jr., commander of the Army’s 202nd Infantry Brigade which has operational jurisdiction over the area. /ee