Four NPA fighters killed in Isabela encounter with government troops

By Ronron
November 20, 2007

Four suspected communist guerillas were killed in an encounter Tuesday morning against government troops in the northern Philippine province of Isabela, a regional military spokesman said.

1Lt. Dennis Guillermo, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said the clash happened at around 9:40 am in Barangay Mabayad in Echague town, involving an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) members and elements of the Philippine Army’s 52nd Reconnaissance Company.

“A platoon from the 52nd RC led by 2Lt. Michael Victoria was immediately dispatched after Col. Victor Felix, commander of the 502nd Infantry Brigade, received reports from the residents about the alarming presence of fully armed communist terrorists in the area,” Guillermo said.

Guillermo said the clash lasted for two hours, resulting in the death of four rebels, the bodies of whom were recovered by the engaged troops, and the recovery of three M16 and two M14 assault rifles, an ICOM radio, improvised explosive devices, and four back packs allegedly containing subversive documents.

“Not a single government troop was hurt during the encounter,” Guillermo said.

5th ID commander, Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo said the cooperation of the people in the government’s fight against insurgency had just been manifested again during Tuesday’s encounter, and as usual, it yielded positive results.

“Our soldiers are always ready to move anytime, anywhere. But the series of success and operational tempo that the 5th ID is gaining this year are credited mainly to the cooperation and serious concern of the civilian populace to put a stop to the coercion and harassment carried out by the communist terrorists in their communities,” Dilodilo said in a statement.

The administration has vowed to crush the 38-year-old insurgency movement by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.

Peace talks with the communists bogged down in August 2004 after it was tagged as a terrorist by foreign governments./DMS