NPA denies hand in Abra attack that killed 2 Cafgu members

BAGUIO CITY – Communist rebels operating in Abra province denied launching an attack on Aug. 15 when two members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) were killed.

In a statement, Florencio “Ka Bram” Baluga, spokesperson of Agustin Begnalen Command-New People’s Army Abra, said they have nothing to do with the reported attack in Barangay Maguyepyep, Sallapadan town.

“If the NPA launches an attack, we take responsibility,” said Baluga.

Baluga attributed the death of the two Cafgu members to the “crack within the reactionary government’s armed forces.”

Reports identified the fatalities in that clash as Dandi Wacquisan from Bucloc and Gordon Gallao from Bazar, Sallapadan.

“The gunfight shows how rotten is their rank, competition for position, corruption and the lack of discipline,” Baluga said.

In a press release, the Army’s 7th Infantry Division claimed that rebels fired at the patrol base around 8:30 am.

This started a 30-minute gun battle that left two Cafgu members dead. Kimberlie Quitasol/lzb