Abra townsfolk thwart rebel attack

La Trinidad, Benguet – Courageous townfolk in Barangay Danac West in Boliney town in Abra thwarted an attack on government troops by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels over the weekend.

Some 40 NPAs reportedly led by communist rebel leaders Melito Tabaday, alias Ka Basbas, and Edgar Molina, alias Dong, were prevented by barangay captain Loreto Bacuyag and his villagemates from attacking a small Army patrol base at the outskirts of their village.

Lt. Jose Ilarde, acting AFP Civil Relations Group-Cordillera chief, said the band of rebels from the NPA’s Kilusang Larangan Gerilya (KLG) reportedly codenamed "Southcentral" were first seen massing up at the outskirts of the village, prompting villagers to suspect the NPAs were preparing to raid the Kilong-Olao Patrol Base, which is manned by a small group of soldiers.

According to Ilarde, Bacuyag and his villagemates alerted government troops and stayed put near the Army patrol base despite orders from the NPA for them to go home.

The rebels, said Ilarde, decided to retreat.

Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos said what Bacuyag and his fellow villagers did "is a manifestation of their strong repulsion against these NPA extortionists."

The people are already fed up being used as milking cows and getting harassed or threatened for not yielding to their demands and impositions, the Army official added.

Meanwhile, government forces reportedly stumbled upon alleged depositories of NPA logistics, including armaments, explosive devices and medical supplies in temporary rebel camps in Mt. Abikian, barangay Aguid in Sagada town in Mountain Province and in Mt. Ambaiget, Barangay Baracbac, Galimuyod town in Ilocos Sur also over the weekend.