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Source: The Manila Times

THE Philippine Army’s 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company (72nd DRC) has clashed anew with members of the Komiteng Rehiyon sa Gitnang Luzon (KRGL) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front in Barangay Salay, Dipaculao town, Aurora province, on Tuesday.

Under the supervision of the 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91st IB), the 72nd DRC said they were acting on tips from a civilian about the presence of heavily armed men in the said village.

Lt. Col. Aries Quinto, 91st IB commanding officer, said a section led by 2nd Lt. Jeson Diamante of the 72nd DRC was conducting a hot pursuit operation when they encountered about 10 heavily armed KRGL at around 5:46 p.m. He said the firefight lasted for about 40 minutes.

“The terrorist NPA split into smaller groups to evade the troops as they fled toward different directions in the hinterlands of Barangay Salay,” Quinto said.

“We will continue to pursue them relentlessly to prevent them from regrouping as they continue to harass residents from the villages of Toytoyan to Salay as part of their plan to regain their mass base,” he added.

On Monday, the first encounter took place at around 6:40 a.m. in Barangay Toytoyan in Dipaculao town with a gunfight that lasted for about 30 minutes before the rebels fled toward unknown directions.

Quinto said hot pursuit operations by the government troops resulted in another encounter on Tuesday in Barangay Salay while the terrorist group scampered again in different directions. Recovered from the second clash was one M14 rifle.

Quinto reiterated that this was a result of the information provided by the populace that a group of armed men was in Toytoyan and now in Salay.

“The timely information provided by our people regarding the presence of armed terrorists indicated that the community was on the side of the government. Our people do not support the terrorists,” he said.

He also condemned at the highest level the NPA’s move to run innocent civilians as their human shield.

Meanwhile, due to continued clashes between the military and the NPA, Dipaculao town has now suspended classes in 19 villages at all levels, while Maria Aurora town has also suspended classes in five villages through issuances of a memorandum from their respective municipalities “to ensure the safety and protection of all students” in both municipalities.

In Dipaculao, Vice Mayor Franklin Reyes, officer in charge of the office of the mayor, suspended classes in the villages of Bayabas, Buenavista, Diamanen, Dimabuno, Ditale, Gupa, Ipil, Laboy, Lipit, Lobbot, Maligaya, Mijares, Mucdol, North Poblacion, Puangi, Salay, Sapangkawayan, South Poblacion and Toytoyan.

Reyes said all school heads in villages not mentioned may determine localized suspension of classes in their respective jurisdiction upon their assessment and reminded his constituents “to be alert, cancel unnecessary travels and stay in their houses.”

“We enjoin all the people of Dipaculao to ensure their own safety and avoid unknown people from allowing them to enter their homes,” he added.

In Maria Aurora town, Sangguninag Bayan Member Elizabeth Farin, who is also the officer in charge of the office of the mayor, suspended classes in the villages of Bayanihan, Kadayakan, Bazal, Diaat and Banawag “to ensure the safety and protection of the students” reminding everyone “to be alert and stay vigilant.”