NPA calls October 1 Albay clash ‘fake’

LEGAZPI CITY –– The New People’s Army (NPA) Santos Binamira Command (SBC) on Friday tagged as fake the armed encounter reported by the authorities in Ligao City in Albay province.

Florante Orobia, spokesperson of the NPA SBC, said in a statement that the report of an encounter was a “hoax” as no NPA rebels were operating in Sitio (sub-village) Cadlom on October 1.

Onrubia said in the statement received by the Inquirer that it was a military and police ploy to highlight and carry out the government campaign to end local communist armed conflict in Albay under President Duterte’s Executive Order 70.

Orobia, quoting reports from farmers in the area, said they heard gunfire around 10 a.m. that forced them to scamper for safety.

Earlier, Albay police reported that they had a 10-minute encounter on Oct. 1 with 10 suspected NPA rebels around 10:30 a.m.

The report said police troops recovered a carbine, a bandolier containing six magazines and ammunition for M203 grenade launcher. Mar S. Arguelles/lzb