Army foils rebels’ plan to sow terror in Igbaras town
AN ARMED clash again ensued between members of Philippine Army and the New People’s Army at Sitio Bais, Brgy. Igcabugao, some 15 kilometers from Igbaras town proper.
At around 4:00 a.m. of Wednesday, soldiers of the 82nd Infantry (Bantaylaya) Battalion’s Bravo Company encountered thirty fully-armed NPA members.
According to 3rd Infantry Division public information officer 1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, the rebels plan to sow terror in Igbaras, that’s why they tried to sabotage the community development operations and public information works of the Army soldiers.
The soldiers were on their morning patrol when they heard the gunshots. Upon checking, they saw some thirty armed rebels.
A 10-minute firefight ensued when the soldiers were able to catch up with the NPA.
Posadas believed that the rebels were by Lex Cadiz, aka Ka Lex, of the NPA Southern Front’s First Platoon.
Overwhelmed by the approaching soldiers, the main body of the enemy withdrew northwest leaving behind two snipers to cover their escape.
Two helicopters, a UH-1H “Huey” and a MG-520, conducted air strike operations on the fleeing enemy.
While there was no casualty on the government side, Posadas said that they are verifying reports that there were wounded rebels.
A member of the 82IB Bravo Company claimed to have seen a number of rebels, who were carrying backpacks and guns, going back and carrying a wounded comrade.
Meanwhile, Posadas said that the Army’s intelligence reports reveal 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.
It was gathered that the NPA will be celebrating their 41st year on March 29.
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.
For 3ID commander 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.”
The 10-month-old 82nd Infantry (Bantay Laya) Battalion after its deployment last August 2009 had already recorded a series of successful encounters with the Communist rebels in its Area of Operations. Meanwhile, 82IB commander Lt. Col. George Joel Lalaquil said that the 82IB as “Ambassadors of Stability” is very serious in upholding to it mandates.
“We would help to totally eradicate the Communist Terrorist’s threat of Kilusang Rehiyon- Panay, to secure the areas of responsibility so that socio-economic development can proceed unhampered, and to help maintain peace and order in Panay so that people can go about their ordinary business without fear,” Lalaquil vowed.
