Army, rebels clash anew in Capiz town

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Philippine Army troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) traded bullets once more in Tapaz, Capiz Sunday morning.

Members of the 12th Infantry Battalion clashed with around 10 rebels at Barangay Siya, Tapaz town.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Jason Estrada, 12th IB commander, accused the rebels of conducting extortion activities in the area.

Estrada said the soldiers learned of the rebels’ activities on a tip from residents of Tapaz’s hinterland villages.

The government troops suffered no casualties, except for two soldiers who were wounded. Both are already in stable condition.

Estrada believed that the rebels suffered casualties based on blood spatters on their withdrawal routes.

Seized from the encounter site were a rifle grenade, 4 ammunition for M203 grenade launcher, 10 mobile phones, 6 hard disk drives; a handheld radio, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Hot pursuit operation continues against the rebels.

On August 24, members of the 12th IB also encountered suspected NPA members at Sitio Nilwan, Barangay Siya, Tapaz.

Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, has cited the vigilance and cooperation of the residents in giving information to the troops about the NPA’s movement and activities.

“We are grateful for the overwhelming support and trust of the Tapaznons who share with us the same vision of making Tapaz a CPP-NPA Terrorists-free municipality,” Arevalo said.

He also commended the troops for preventing the extortion activities of the communist-terrorist group in said barangay.

“Having casualty sometimes cannot be avoided. This is part of our job and the risk we have to face to sustain the peace and security in the hinterland barangays. The wounds and the pains we sustained from the battle are the testaments of our sincerity in serving and securing the people,” he said.