Soldiers conducting disaster response operation encounter NPAs in Quezon

November 12, 2020

Philippine Army troops who were conducting disaster response operation encountered New People's Army (NPA) members in Quezon Province on Thursday.

Capt. Jayrald Ternio,  public affairs chief of the 2nd Infantry Division, said the soldiers of the Army's 85 Infantry Battalion were engaged in a 50-minute encounter against NPA terrorists in Macalelon.

"Government troops were supposed to augment other ground forces for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response or HADR when they were able to track and engage more or less 20 NPAs under the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) Platoon Sol and Japson led by alias Mitch posturing threat against the community in Brgy. Lahing," he said.

Brig. Gen. Norwyn Romeo Tolentino, commander of the 201st Brigade said the soldiers recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), four magazines, one bandolier, and various enemy war paraphernalia that was left by the terrorists.

“There was no casualty recorded on the part of the security forces, while the casualty count among the NPAs is being validated by the troops who are still conducting pursuit operations,” Tolentino said.

Following the clash, Major Gen Greg Almerol,  commander of the 2nd ID,  ordered his troops not to lower their guard  even while conducting humanitarian activities.

"No words will ever be enough to express our disgust over the NPA's unacceptable act in threatening the communities and endangering their lives instead of joining the government's cause in helping the people amid the devastation brought about by Typhoon 'Ulysses'," he said.

" A total of 702 soldiers and 91 military trucks across Southern Tagalog are placed in high alert for HADR mission in areas greatly affected by the devastation of Ulysses, most especially in the areas of Rodriguez and Tanay, among others," said Almerol. Robina Asido/DMS