Suspected NPA guerrillas fire at paramilitary base in Batangas

Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels fired at a government paramilitary base in San Juan town in Batangas province, two weeks before its anniversary on March 29.

The suspected rebels, according to San Juan police chief Supt. Joemar Labiano on Thursday, opened fire at a new base of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in the remote Sitio (sub-village) of Sampaloc in Barangay (village) Bulsa around 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

The firing lasted for about five minutes without any casualty, Labiano added.

Recovered from the scene were 58 cartridges from a 5.56-caliber rifle.

“According to our counterparts (in the Armed Forces of the Philippines), it was just their (NPA’s) way of making their presence felt since they are celebrating their anniversary on March 29,” Labiano said in a phone interview.

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, was founded in 1969.

Last week, sporadic encounters between the NPA and members of the Philippine Air Force were reported in the towns of Balayan, Calaca, and Tuy in Batangas.

At least two government soldiers were reportedly hurt in the clashes.