NPA death toll from Abra clash rises to 6

MANILA, Philippines - The number of communist rebels who died during the encounter in Lacub, Abra last Thursday has risen to six while the number of firearms recovered from the insurgents jumped to 13, the military said.

Armed Forces 1st Civil Relations Group chief Maj. Emmanuel Garcia said troops from the 41st battalion have found an additional body and five firearms in the encounter site in Barangay Guinguinabang.

Also recovered from the site were eight M16 rifles, one AK47, two M653 baby Armalite, one Garand and one cal. .45 pistol along with generator set, radios and subversive documents.

“Authorities believe there could be more dead and wounded who might die if not given proper medical attention,” Garcia said. 

“Elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion who engaged the NPA (New People's Army) remnants were on pursuit operation and scouring the area when they found the still unidentified additional body and the five additional firearms,” he added.

Garcia said the gun battle which started at 5 a.m. and lasted until noon, was “a major tactical victory” for the military. 

Four of the slain NPA members were identified as Arnold Jaramillo alias Mando, secretary of the Abra Provincial Party Committee; Joel Banganan alias Ka Payas, commander of a local guerilla committee, Ronald Lang-ey Cocha and a certain Dumageng alias Jess. The two other fatalities, a male and a female, are still unidentified as of press time.

Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad called on the NPA leadership to bring down their wounded comrades so they can be provided with medical assistance.

“We would like the NPA to realize that our soldiers treat them as fellow Filipinos and that the encounter was a result of their armed and bloody way of furthering their belief. We encourage them to shed that violent way and use peaceful means," Trinidad said.