NPA killed in clash in Sorsogon

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash that transpired after the rebels had tried to overrun a police checkpoint in Sorsogon.

Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo state that the encounter took place Thursday night at Barangay Cabid-an in Sorsogon City.

Five communist rebels tried to overrun a police security checkpoint at around 7:30 p.m., prompting members of the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade to conduct pursuit operations.

A firefight then ensued, leaving one insurgent dead and one policeman wounded.

Two of the fleeing NPA members held five civilians hostage as they evade the pursuing soldiers.

The five hostages were able to escape, prompting the security forces to immediately clear the area.

Military reports say the rebels escaped by piling up soft drink cases and using them to climb the wall at the rear of a compound under the cover of darkness.

“The pursuing troops were directed to ensure that there were no civilians inside who might be caught in the crossfire,” said Col. Joselito Kakilala, chief of the Army’s 903rd brigade.

Civilians who were caught in the crossfire were given stress debriefing by the local police.

Sorsogon is one of the areas that have yet to be declared insurgency-free. The military claims that 43 of 75 NPA-affected provinces in the country have undergone “normalization” and are now ready for further development.

Once a province is declared “normalized,” the lead role of maintaining peace and security will be transferred to local government units from the military. – Alexis Romero