Army: NPAs place higher value on firearm over comrades’ lives
What’s a firearm’s worth?
This, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion asked over their observation that the New People’s Army placed higher value on their firearms over the lives of their dying comrades.
According to 3ID public information officer 1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, the NPAs were more keen on getting hold of their firearm than saving their fellow rebels’ life.
This observation came in the light of the recent encounter between the Bravo Company of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and NPAs at Sitio Aluyan, Barangay Caduhaan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental Sunday morning.
Six suspected NPA members were killed in an hour-long gun battle.
The Bravo Company, led by its commander 1Lt/. Archie Polenzo, encountered the twenty armed members of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangan North Negros’s 1st Platoon led while conducting routine patrols.
Posadas said that intelligence reports have identified the two leaders of this group as alias Chua and alias Renan.
A supporting platoon led by 2Lt. Russel Lucena, who was situated near the encounter site, immediately tried to head off the fleeing NPA upon hearing the gunshots.
Additional troops, along with Army’s K9 units, were inserted in the area via helicopters to pursue the fleeing NPA.
The K9 trackers were used to recover the dead NPA that were left behind by their comrades as well as track down the fleeing NPA.
The dogs were able to track and pursue three NPA and another gun battle ensued in the afternoon.
Six cadavers, believed to be NPA, four male and 2 female, were sniffed out by our dogs, some still holding onto their firearms.
Three firearms were recovered at the encounter site include 1 M653 Baby Armalite, 1 M16 Rifle, and an M14 Rifle.
“The surviving rebels took their dead comrade’s firearms and literally “left them for the dogs,” Posadas noted.
The six suspected rebels are still unidentified and are currently in the custody of the Philippine National Police in Cadiz City awaiting autopsy.
Polenzo was wounded during the initial gun-battle and eventually expired as he was being evacuated towards the rear area.
His remains are currently interred in Alisbo Funeral Homes in Bacolod City. He will be given full military honors.
“As their founding anniversary draws near (March 29), the NPA traditionally commemorate their founding by conducting tactical offensives against the Government and civilians to project their strength in areas that they have lost influence,” Posadas said.
The 62nd IB, he added, was successful in disrupting the plans of the NPA in Northern Negros but at the cost of the life of one of its own.
“1Lt. Polenzo made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may continue to enjoy our democratic freedom. We mourn the loss of one of our officers in the 3ID despite the success of the operation that he led. In light of this recent encounter, your Army will continue to be vigilant and keep a watchful eye on the activities of the NPA in Western Visayas,” Posadas said in conclusion.
