Eight NPA rebels, cop killed in clash

SAN FELIPE, Zambales — Eight New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and a policeman were killed when Special Action Force and Army troops clashed with the guerrillas in Sitio Carusipan, Barangay Apostol here Tuesday afternoon. Two SAF troopers were also wounded in the firefight.

Killed in the encounter was Police Officer 2 Vicente Archenda. Wounded were Police Officers 1 Melody Fontanilla and Jolito Andaya. Most of the dead rebels have yet to be identified.

Zambales police commander Senior Superintendent Wilson Victorio said the rebels were led by an amazon, Annabelle Rivera, alias Ka Dea, who was one of those killed in the firefight.

"The communist guerrillas scampered away after a few hours of firefight," he said. "They are now the subject of hot pursuit operations."

The rebels belong to the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Buccat-Canoy under the NPA’s Josepino Corpus Command, he added.

Lt. Col. Preme Monta, Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) spokesman, said SAF troops were rushed to the scene after barangay residents reported to the Zambales police headquarters that 20 heavily armed men were demanding food from them.

Monta said the rebels were given a chance to surrender, but that they chose to fight it out with government troops.

Policemen and soldiers recovered from the scene two M-14 and seven M-16 assault rifles, an M653 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, subversive documents and backpacks containing personal belongings, he added.

Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez also ordered a platoon from the Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion and the 72nd Reconnaissance Company to reinforce the policemen.

Dominguez said police and troops are pursuing the fleeing guerillas in the mountains of Zambales, and that he had ordered his men to "sustain the momentum" against the NPA.

"Vigilance is necessary as the rebels are likely to launch attacks on government positions, as well as vital facilities such as communication towers and power transmission lines to mark the NPA’s 35th founding anniversary on March 29," he said.

In Laguna, NPA guerrillas attacked a detachment of militiamen in Cavinti town before dawn Wednesday after Tuesday’s killing of eight rebels in Zambales.

No casualties were reported on the government side.

Lt. Gen. Alfonso Dagudag, Army regional commander, said the rebels later withdrew with "an undetermined number of casualties."

In Mindanao, troops discovered four abandoned NPA camps, which can hold up to 100 people each in bunkers, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Joselito Kakilala. — Bebot Sison Jr., Benjie Villa, James Mananghaya, Ric Sapnu