New People’s Army (NPA) | INQUIRER.net file photo
DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD, (DRT) Bulacan–Government troops engaged the Rizal-based New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a brief clash Wednesday, but no casualties were reported.
Lt. Col. Eugene Garce, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in this town, said his group figured in a 10-minute gunfight with 10 NPA members.
The clash took place in the mountainous area of Sitio Osboy in Barangay San Mateo in Norzagaray town around 5:30 p.m., Garce said.
According to him, the troops, including members of the Army’s 80th Infantry Battalion and Bulacan Police Mobile Force Command 24th Special Action Company of the Special Action Force, were conducting combat operations when they encountered the rebels.
The rebels were believed to be members of Platoon Sentro De Grabidad of Guerilla Front Narciso based in Rizal.
The armed group allegedly visited on Wednesday Bulacan’s forests as the CPP-NPA marked its 53rd anniversary.
Osboy residents reported the rebels’ presence in their community, and the military responded, which triggered a gunfight.
The rebels, however, scampered for safety after the brief exchange of fire, Garce added.
“This is a clear manifestation that the people and the community are now well-aware of the deceptive lies of the [rebels]…,” Garce said, adding that it led the community to inform the government troops about the rebels’ presence in their area.