Two soldiers wounded in clash with alleged NPAs in Isabela

November 26, 2019

Two soldiers were wounded while three high-powered firearms were recovered following an encounter with the alleged members of New People’s Army (NPA) in Isabela on Monday.

Maj. Noriel Tayaban, spokesman of the 5th Infantry Division, said sniper teams of the 95th Infantry Battalion were conducting focused military operation when they were engaged by about 20 armed men believed to be members of the Regional Sentro de Gravidad (RSDG) of the CPP-NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon – Cagayan Valley at the vicinity of Brgy. Ara, Benito Soliven.

Tayaban said the rebels withdrew from the encounter site after the clash that lasted for about 30 minutes.

“The operation led to the recovery of one M-14 rifle and two M-653 rifles. Two army troops were slightly wounded by shrapnels during the battle, while the casualties on the enemy side are still undetermined,” he said.

 Tayaban said at least three rebels were believed to be killed or seriously wounded.

“It is believed that not less than three communist NPA terrorists were either killed or seriously wounded as manifested by the three high-powered assault rifles that they left in the encounter site as well as numerous heavy bloodstains in the vicinity and their routes of withdrawal,” he said.

“Also recovered were ammunition, magazines, a rifle grenade, detonating cords for explosives, food supplies, back packs with personal items and subversive documents,” he added.

Tayaban said following the clash the 5th ID had raised the alarm in the area, alerting the nearby operating Army units, CAFGU Active Auxiliary Patrol Bases as well as the Philippine National Police to conduct pursuit, checkpoint and resource control operations in the boundaries of Benito Soliven, San Mariano, San Guillermo and Cauayan City which is covered by the CPP-NPA’s Central Front Committee, KR-CV. Robina Asido/DMS