1 killed, 3 hurt in NPA clash in Occidental Mindoro

CALAPAN CITY – A suspected medical officer of the New People’s Army operating in Occidental Mindoro was killed while three other rebels were believed wounded as government troopers engaged the NPAs in almost a day of running gunbattle Thursday that forced the latter to flee their camp in Rizal town, in said province.

Lt. Frank Sayson, public information officer of the Philippine Army 2nd Infantry Division, said Thursday that soldiers led by 2nd Lt. Nilo Ramones, on orders of 80th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, Jr., was conducting search operation in the boundaries of Barangay Rizal and Sitio Hacienda Yap, Barangay Aguas, all of Rizal town in Occidental Mindoro at about 6 a.m. Thursday when they chanced upon a confirmed NPA camp that was full of suspected communist rebels.

There, Sayson said the Army troopers engaged about 40 NPA members in a fierce firefight that turned into a running gunbattle and lasted for more than three hours.  The surprised government enemies were forced to withdraw and escaped from their camp when Army reconnaissance teams and police operatives from the Occidental Mindoro Philippine National Police and 407th Provincial Police Mobile Group reinforced the government soldiers.

However, the escaping rebels, reportedly led by NPA platoon leader Jovito Mar­quez alias Ka Busay, a guerilla platoon leader, and one alias Ka Yami, were reportedly able to deliver on the pursuing government troops intermittent sniper shots until about 8 p.m. of the same day.

According to Provincial Police director Senior Superintendent Audie Arroyo, a section of PNP arrived at 7:20 p.m. Thursday and reinforced the pursuing government troops, who were aided closely by heavy volume of rocket and machine guns from two MG520 and two UH-1H (Huey) helicopter gunships of the PA, as well as two police V150s.

The killed male rebel was positively identified by a rebel returnee and men from the 80th IB of Col. Burgos as Ronnie Ferrer, alias Ka Ambay and Ka Jack, of Barangay Malpalon, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro. Ferrer is said to be an NPA medical officer and is listed in the military’s “order of battle.”

Further, Army troopers under Charlie Company of 80th IB, under 1st Lt. Jun Bacquial and 2nd Lt. Boy Daug, recovered at the said rebel camp a grenade, clamor mine, eight blasting caps with detonators and cords, medical and acupuncture kits, voluminous subversive documents and diaries, five bullet-ridden and bloodstained backpacks, foodstuff, kitchen wares, a hammock, toiletries, two pairs of ladies’ shoes, one slipper, a pair of black rubber shoes and unused cigarettes.