CAMP VICENTE LIM, Calamba City -- A soldier was killed during a firefight early Monday morning, July 24, between the Philippine Army (PA) 76th Infantry Battalion (IB) and New People’s Army (NPA) at a sub-village of Barangay Cagsiay 2 in Mauban, Quezon.
The firefight began 5:30 a.m. and lasted for 10 minutes forcing rebels to retreat as they brought along their wounded companions.
The pursuing military troops belonging to the Alpha Company of the 76th IB found blood stains along the rebels’ escape route after the firefight in Sitio Bantigue, Barangay Cagsiay 2.
Mauban chief of police, Inspector Marianne Costas, identified the fatality as Corporal Angel Joseph dela Cruz.
Last week, the rebels also conducted several harassments in the Calabarzon region comprising of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
Last Saturday, July 22, the rebels burned the barracks and four heavy equipment vehicles of the RTY Construction in Lopez, Quezon around 10 p.m.
On July 23, the detachment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Barangay San Antonio in Kalayaan, Laguna, was also harassed by rebels with volleys of gunfire in a midnight attack.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the AFP sustained their full alert status following intelligence reports that NPA members will stage series of attacks prior to the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of the President Rodrigo Duterte.
Calabarzon Police Regional Office Regional Director Chief Superintendent Ma O R. Aplasca instructed all provincial directors and chiefs of police to be on full alert and coordinate their actions closely with their AFP counterparts.
Aplasca also instructed to strengthen police and border control operations, conduct check points and place additional perimeter guards and sentinel at all police stations in the regions.
Last week, Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council of the AFP's 2nd Infantry Division and PRO Calabarzon met at Camp Vicente Lim to discuss and formulate plans to thwart enemy's plans to attack in the Calabarzon area. (PNA)
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