Clashes between Army, NPA getting more frequent in Quezon province

LUCENA CITY—Soldiers and communist guerrillas clashed twice in two towns in Quezon province on Friday (March 5), the military said.

The first clash took place at a village in Lopez past 6 a.m., the Army’s 201st Infantry Brigade said on Facebook. The clash lasted for 15 minutes, the Army said.

Three hours later, or around 9 a.m., another clash took place at a village of Macalelon town. It lasted for about 5 minutes.

There were no casualties on the government side, the report said.

No casualty was reported either on the rebel side, allegedly led by one Cecilia Mondia, the report added.

According to the military, villagers tipped off soldiers about the presence of New People’s Army guerrillas which led to the clashes.

On Feb. 5 and 6, an Army junior officer, two soldiers and two rebels were killed in running gun battles in two other Quezon towns, Buenavista and Catanuan.

Brig. Gen. Norwyn Romeo Tolentino, 201st IB commander, said the series of clashes in Quezon was a sign of growing support for the counterinsurgency operation by the people.

TSB