3 Cafgus, 1 civilian wounded in NPA clash

Three militiamen and a civilian were wounded in an encounter with suspected communist rebels in the hinterlands of Balayan, Batangas yesterday afternoon.

The clash took place in Barangay Taktak where a resident got caught in the crossfire but survived. Police identified him as Jonathan Bayuhan, 28.

Balayan police chief Inspector Florendo Saligao said the local police were in joint patrol with elements of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army and Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) at about 1 p.m. near the mountains when they chanced upon some 20 armed men. The gunbattle lasted 45 minutes before the rebels withdrew. There was no report of casualty on their part.

Saligao said subversive documents were recovered from the encounter site leading them to believe that the armed men belonged to the New People’s Army (NPA), the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Based on the Batangas Provincial Police Office report received by Supt. Benjamin Belarmino, Regional Operation and Planning Division chief, the wounded Cafgu personnel were identified as Rufino Cabahay; Andres Pedraza and Jonathan Bayangan. They were rushed to the Don Manuel Lopez District Hospital in Barangay Gumanela, Balayan, Batangas City due to gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.

Belarmino said, joint operatives of the military and Batangas Provincial Police Office conducted hot pursuit operations against the rebels in remote areas of Balayan, Batangas.

Recovered from the encounter were three bags of subversive documents and ammunition.

Reports said the encounter occurred at around 2 p.m. as soldiers and Cafgu personnel were patrolling the area due to intelligence reports of sightings of unidentified armed men.

Police said the rebels armed with M-79 and grenade launchers were wearing fatigue uniforms on board several vehicles and were spotted traveling toward Barangay Taktak in Balayan, Batangas.

Alert military personnel led by Staff Sergeant Cesar Fernandez and civilian armed units intercepted the rebels and the shootouts ensued. — Ed Amoroso and Arnell Ozaeta