Military, NPA rebels clash in Ilocos Sur; 16 wounded

SANTA CRUZ, Ilocos Sur – A soldier and an undetermined number of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were wounded in an encounter in the outskirts of Barangay Madarang in Salcedo, Ilocos Sur Saturday afternoon.

Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio C. Osias, commander of the Philippine Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion, confirmed the encounter which happened at about 1:30 p.m.

“Exhausted from the repeated extortions conducted by NPA rebels in the remote area of Ilocos Sur, the people in the community provided vital information to our troopers regarding the location and whereabouts of said rebels; and in response, our troops conducted intensive military operations, he said.

“When our troops reached the vicinity of Barangay Madarang, they encountered more or less 15 fully-armed rebels which resulted to a 30-minute gunfight,” he added.

It was also reported that the NPA rebels were forced to retreat from the encounter while with their injured comrades.

During the clearing operation, Osias said government forces recovered one M653 Rifle, two rifle grenades, three improvised explosive devices, one ICOM radio with two chargers, documents, personal belongings, and medical items.

“We are appealing to all sectors of the society, especially to our local elected officials, to cooperate with their government security forces. It is not just us, the Army, that will solve this insurgency, but all of us. What we are doing is not for ourselves but for the people of Ilocos Sur, and the Filipino people, as a whole,” Osias said.