Suspected NPA combatant found hurt in Quezon clash site

LUCENA CITY –– Government soldiers conducting clearing operations at a clash site in Quezon province on Sunday, Feb. 7, found a wounded New People’s Army (NPA) rebel, the military reported Tuesday, Feb. 9.

The report said his fleeing comrades left behind the wounded rebel in Catanauan town.

The Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion announced on Facebook Monday afternoon how the soldiers saved “Ka Marco” and provided him treatment after finding him in Barangay San Roque around 6 p.m.

The report said the rebel shouted for help and guided the soldiers to his location in the dark and forested part of the village.

Despite the risk that the distressed call could be a ruse for a possible ambush by waiting communist guerrillas, the soldiers carefully crawled until they located the injured rebel, the report said.

In a video footage, the soldiers were carrying the wounded rebel in a stretcher under cover of darkness while repeatedly telling him not to fall asleep and assuring him that they would help him live.

Ka Marco was taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. The military did not provide details on the supposed wound of the rebel.

In another video, “Ka Marco,” who looks like a teener, had expressed his disappointment with his comrades, who abandoned him.

“Ganun pala pag wala nang halaga. Iiwanan na lang nila. Nangako silang babalikan ako. ilang araw na, hindi na sila nagpakabalik-balik,” he said.

(So that is what happens when you have no more use to them. They will just leave you behind. They promised they would come back, but it’s been days, and they have not returned.)

The 85th IB appealed to the remaining communist guerrillas in the area to lay down their arms and surrender to the government while they still have the chance.

“The soldiers will not stop to end the insurgency in Quezon,” the military vowed.

The military urged the rebels, who want to surrender, to coordinate with barangay officials, their trusted persons, or turn themselves in to the local police stations or military detachments.

Since Friday, government forces and NPA rebels have been engaged in running battles in Buenavista and Catanauan towns.

Three soldiers, including a junior officer, have been killed, and another one wounded.

The military also reported the deaths of two alleged NPA leaders, Ronnel Batarlo, alias “Ka Marwin,” and another one identified as “Jade” and “Rosgel.”

Aside from the two, the military said the rebels also suffered an undetermined number of casualties in the firefights.

LZB