NPA debunks recovery of war materiel in Calatrava

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) Northern Negros Guerrilla Front denied ownership of the cache of firearms and ammunition recovered by military troopers in Calatrava, Negros Occidental early this month.

In a statement dated July 23, Ka Cecil Estrella, RJPC-NPA spokesperson, said there was neither an NPA unit nor firearms and ammunition deployed to Sitio Bandol, Barangay Maaslob.

The Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), earlier reported that an M14 rifle with magazine and live ammunition, M16 magazines, clips for Garand rifle, commercial radios, and subversive documents were reportedly buried on the ground by remnants of the defunct Northern Negros Front (NNF).

The discovery stemmed from the information they received from some residents who support the anti-insurgency campaign of the government, according to the 79th IB.

But the NPA said that the 79th IB only made up stories to justify their focused military operations in the area.

“Lunsay kabutigan ang nasambit nga pahayag” (referring to the Army’s statement), Estrella said.

But, the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) maintained that there was a recovery of war materiel in the said area.

Captain Mervin Rosal, civil military operations officer of 303rd IBde, said the statement of the NPA is “clear propaganda.”