After 2-yr absence, rebels back in Aurora

CLARK FREEPORT—Aurora province’s insurgency-free status, which the military had declared more than two years ago, was put to test after a clash erupted between government soldiers and communist rebels on Thursday.

The first clash between Army soldiers and the New People’s Army rebels that broke out since the government declared Aurora free from the influence of communist rebels happened in Barangay Galintuja in Maria Aurora town, a report from the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) based in Tarlac City said.

The Army unit under the 56th Infantry Battalion acted on information provided by residents, Nolcom said.

The group of 10 NPA rebels seen in Maria Aurora was trying to cross over to Rizal province, said Capt. Mark Anthony Ruelos, public information officer of the military’s 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province.

The military and the NPA did not report any casualty from the 30-minute gunfight, which began at 6:30 a.m.

Lt. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr., Nolcom commander, said Nolcom forces have been monitoring the activities of the rebels.

“As expected, as the Christmas season approaches, the NPA remnants are out to launch various illegal activities in order to extort from the people who are preparing for the holiday festivities,” Trinidad said in a statement. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon