Ambush try vs. 82IB soldiers foiled, landmines recovered
A platoon of the 82nd Infantry Battalion’s Charlie Company thwarted a planned ambush against them at Brgy. Igcabugao, Igbaras town, Iloilo, one day after the encounter between the 82IB’s Bravo Company and the New People’s Army.
According to 3rd Infantry Divisions public information officer 1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, the Charlie Company led by 1Lt. Pete Malaluan were conducting hot pursuit operations when they recovered two improvised explosive devices, particularly personnel landmines.
The landmines, Posadas added, were laid along the probable line of attacks of the soldiers.
“The IED was connected to a switchbox 10 meters from the hastily abandoned landmines. The landmines were intended to maim and kill the pursuing troops to cover the escape of the fleeing NPA who initiated the attack yesterday. The recoveries of the two IED Landmines indicate that the enemy intended to ambush our soldiers. However, our troops’ vigilance, presence of mind, and tactical prowess are evident when they assaulted the NPA from a different direction, foiling their plans to do our soldiers harm,” he said.
Posadas further claimed that their intelligence reports revealed that the NPA will escalate their illegal and terrorist activities in areas where they are losing support and influence as the date of their founding anniversary nears.
The NPA will be celebrating their 41st year founding anniversary on March 29.
To note, just a week ago, a similar encounter occurred in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental with the 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion, who clashed with twenty rebels leaving six dead NPAs and the recovery of three high-powered firearms in their wake.
Meanwhile, 82IB commander Lt. Col. George Joel Lalaquil said that the abandoned IEDs already laid down and were left behind also indicate the NPA’s desperation amidst the pressure of their leadership to elevate their Tactical Offensives to a higher level.
“They’re failure to execute their plan and the abandonment of their equipment indicates a disgruntled and disorganized enemy under a weak leadership,” he added.
It was also found that the enemy occupied a civilian house while they fired upon the soldiers.
“This only shows that they are continuing to put innocent civilians in harm’s way by using them as human shields. We congratulate our Army troopers for their professionalism by putting their own lives just to ensure the safety of the Igcabugaonons,” Lalaquil added.
Other items recovered from the ambush site were batteries, SIM Card, scattered leftover “puso” rice, and empty shells of 5.56mm ACP 99 Ammunition that is conventionally purchased in commercial gunstores.
According to 3ID commanding officer Major General Vicente Porto, the NPA’s Southern Front in Panay Island is hopelessly clinging to Igbaras but the residents themselves are the ones saying that they are unwelcome.
“The NPA’s recent actions in Western Visayas betray their desperation and incapability to conduct decisive operations against our soldiers. The 3ID will continue to stay vigilant to prevent these terrorists from further disrupting our peaceful way of life,” he pointed out.
