2 alleged NPA rebels killed in Quezon clash

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY – Two alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter Thursday with government soldiers in Guinayangan town in Quezon province.

The Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion said in an initial report that soldiers engaged an undetermined number of armed communist guerrillas in Barangay San Jose that left two Red-fighters killed.

Lieutenant Colonel Joel Jonson, 8th IB commander, identified the slain rebels by their aliases as “Joy” and “Ramon/Isko.”

Police and Army checkpoints have been established in strategic areas to support pursuit operations against the NPA rebels on the run.

READ: NPA leader, 2 other rebels killed in Batangas clash

Jonson said the military was coordinating with the local government to reach out to the families of the dead rebels to provide them with decent burials.

The Army official reiterated their call for the remaining NPA rebels to surrender and live peacefully.

On Monday, Army soldiers and NPA rebels also clashed in Calaauag town.

Two Army soldiers were wounded in the encounter.

The soldiers, during the clearing operation, also recovered one M16 rifle, seven magazines loaded with ammunition, three pieces of anti-personnel mines, and other personal belongings at the encounter site that were left behind by retreating rebels.

An alleged NPA rebel surrendered to government forces after he was left behind by his comrades.

In June last year, local government, police, and military officials in Quezon declared the province free from the influence of communist insurgents.

They said the province had attained “Stable Internal Peace and Security” or SIPS status, which means that the CPP, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and the NPA are no longer a threat to the peace and order in its localities.

However, authorities admitted that the NPA may still have remnants in the province.