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Monday, March 22, 2004
Soldier killed as 80 rebels attack troops in Isabela (1:43 p.m.)
By Harley Palangchao
CAMP ALLEN, Baguio City -- A soldier was killed when around 80 heavily armed New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels tried to ambush government troopers conducting foot patrol operation near the main NPA encampment in Isabela province, the military reported Monday.
Army Private Michael Catembung, a member of the 45th Infantry Battalion, died instantly when the rebels fired upon the soldiers who were on foot patrol operation in Barangay Dicamay Uno, Jones, Isabela, in the morning of March 19.
Lt. Col. Preme Monta, information officer of the military's North Luzon Command (Nolcom), reported that government troopers led by 2nd Lt. Jose Reynaldo Cortez managed to fire back at the rebels, who fled into different directions upon sensing that a military reinforcement was approaching the site of encounter.
Monta said government troops only recovered the body of Catembung after one UH helicopter and two SF 260 bomber plane flew to the encounter site to conduct air assaults against the rebels.
The following day, Monta said government troops scoured the main NPA encampment in Jones town and found assorted empty shells of different calibers, 10 detachable bunkers made of ply tent, barricades made of round logs, deep old logging road utilized as running trenches, foxholes and scattered fresh bloodstains which indicate that the enemy sustained several casualties during the armed confrontation and bombing by air assets.
He said the recovered NPA camp was believed to be the main encampment of the NPA's Southern Front operating in some parts of Isabela, whole of Quirino province and Nueva Vizcaya.
As the incident happened, Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez directed Major General Reynaldo Alcasid, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, to supervise the ongoing pursuit operation and prevent the remaining NPA band from regrouping.
Over the weekend, both the military and police were alerted to thwart any tactical offensives by the rebels, who were reportedly massing up its forces ahead of the 35th NPA foundation day on March 29. (Sun.Star Baguio) |
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