CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac – A member of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorist Group (CNTG) was killed in a clash with Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Army troops last Friday morning in the province of Apayao.
In a report sent by Lt. Col. Isagani G. Nato, of the AFP Northern Luzon command public information office, said that Army troops from the “A” Company of the 17th Infantry Battalion (17IB), under the Joint Task Force (JTF) “TALA of the 5th Infantry Division (5ID), decisively engaged about 20 NPA Terrorists at Sitio Aggingay Bassit, Brgy Malayugan, Flora, Apayao as part of its Focused Military Operations (FMO) in the NPA affected areas.
Troops identified the fatality as Danao Gualo Besuitan, of Brgy Bural, Rizal, Cagayan, based on the recovered wallet in his possession.
Nato said the firefight lasted for about 15 minutes before the remaining NPA Terrorists scampered towards southwest direction from the encounter site. The firefight ended with the recovery of an M4 Rifle bearing Serial Number (SN) 090629.
The skirmish transpired as a response to the information provided by the local residents in the said barangay, who have learned of the evils the Communist NPA brought to their communities. Authorities are still conducting pursuit operations against the NPA remnants.
Nato said that the NOLCOM forces will continue to deliver hard blows to the NPA terrorists, keeping them on the run and preventing them from further conducting hostile actions that is detrimental to the peace and stability of the province and adjacent regions.
Meantime, police officials are expecting a big adverse impact on the operational capability of communist rebels operating in Panay Island following the arrest of the wife of a top leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Western Visayas.
But Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of the Western Visayas regional police, said they are also ready on the possible retaliatory attack of the communist rebels with the arrest of Maria Theresa Drilon Cabales. (Aaron B. Recuenco)
