Army, CPP tell different accounts on AFP’s aerial attack in Nueva Vizcaya

A mountain between Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya provinces. (File photo from SAN NICOLAS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT)

ANGELES CITY — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has called the aerial operation done by the Philippine Army over Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya on Thursday, June 20, against the New People’s Army (NPA) a “fake encounter.”

On its website Saturday, June 22, the CPP said two military helicopters dropped explosives and fired their guns at Alfonso Castañeda town between 12:30 a.m. and 1:45 a.m.

But the group said there was no encounter that happened between government troops and the NPA.

The communist organization did not say if there were NPA fighters in the area at the time of the aerial assault.

On Friday, June 21, the Army described its aerial attack at the mountainous area of Abuyo village in Alfonso Castañeda as a thwarting of “communist terrorist group’s criminal activities,” referring to the NPA, the armed wing of the CPP.

In a statement on its social media page, the 703rd Agila Brigade of the Philippine Army said an aerial operation was launched at a specific target location in Sitio (sub-village) Marikit in Abuyo village.

This move came following the receipt of information from concerned citizens about the presence of heavily armed men.

“Before the Army’s combat and aerial operations, people in the community reported the presence and criminal activities of the members of the CTG (communist terrorist group) in the area to the authorities,” it said.

Quoting Lieutenant Colonel Jerald Reyes, commanding officer of the 84th Infantry Battalion, the 703rd Brigade said the armed men were able to establish a strong position in the mountainous sub-village.

This situation prompted the military to resort to aerial operations.

“The CTGs were believed to be heavily armed and coming from the Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla Tarlac – Zambales, regrouped themselves for a specific task targeting the areas declared as in a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security,” the army brigade said.

The 703rd Brigade noted that people living in the vicinity were evacuated to a safer ground.

In a statement, Brigadier General Joseph Norwin Pasamonte, 703rd Infantry Brigade commander, said no one was hurt during the operation.

“Our top priority is the safety of the people in the community. We assured the public that no innocent civilians were hurt during the operation,” he said.

“A total of 49 families were safely evacuated with the assistance of the Alfonso Castañeda LGU (local government unit),” he added.