CAVINTI, LAGUNA- Army troops figured in a firefight with more or less 10 New People’s Army members belonging to Platun 2 YGM, KLG NARCISO under Janice Javier @ YAYO at vicinity Brgy Magsikap, General Nakar, Quezon on June 1, 2022.

Troops belonging to the 1st Infantry Battalion while conducting security operation clashed with more or less 10 fully armed rebels in said area. After the brief firefight, the government troops were able to capture one (1) M16 rifle, one (1) hand grenade, one (1) improvised explosive device (IED) and three (3) back packs with personal belongings and documents with high intelligence value. No government troops were injured in the said incident.

According to Brig. Gen. Cerilo C Balaoro Jr., Commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, the troops took action due to complaints of the residents of the said barangay about the presence of NPA members harassing their community and extorting foodstuffs and other supplies from the poor populace.

“Said encounter is a result of the cooperation and convergence of agencies comprising Task Force ELCAC from provincial down to barangay level that emboldened the community to act accordingly against terrorist groups in their locality. This only shows that the people even in far-flung communities are becoming confident and bold to report any presence of CPP-NPA terrorists. Likewise, said initiative of barangay residents often led to numerous successful combat operations and resulted to the steady decline of NPA capability”.

As such, I would like to reiterate my call on the remaining NPA members to return to the folds of the law and live a peaceful life with their family", BGen Balaoro added.

It can be recalled that last April 18, 2022, Army troops also had a skirmish with the CTG in Gen Nakar, Quezon wherein two (2) NPA members were killed and three (3) high-powered firearms recovered, among others.