Guns, ammo, medicines and supplies the Army seized after the gunbattles. Contributed photo
FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – At least five suspected New People’s Army guerillas were killed in a series of gunbattles with soldiers from the Army’s 702nd Infantry Brigade in Barangay Suagayan, Ilocos Sur over the weekend.
An Army trooper was killed and five were wounded in the gunfight, a report from the 7th Infantry Division public affairs office showed.
Quoting reports from the 702IB, the information unit said one of the slain rebels was identified as Rolando Marvil alias Eugene, member of the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya South Ilocos Sur, resident of Barangay Bignay.
The identities of the four have yet to be established.
The group was led by a certain alias “Nero” whose real name is Ronnie Dalem Garvida, who is facing multiple criminal charges, the military said.
“Information given by the residents of the community who denounced the presence of the NPA bandits led to the encounters,” it said.
Recovered from the encounter sites were four M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, one .45 pistol, one 9mm pistol, one shotgun, six improvised explosive devices, 15 blasting caps, five detonating switch, two rolls of 25 meters wire, three hand grenades, 15 cellphones, subversive documents, and assorted medicines, along with the bodies of the five rebels.
“Clearing operations have been made immediately after the encounters to ensure the safety of the people living near from encounter site,” said the military report.
Major Gen. Alfredo VRosario Jr., commander of the 7thInfantry Division said: “The encounters show that the government strongly holds its territorial jurisdiction against the NPA bandits. This is also part of the effort of the Regional TF-ELCAC to finally crush the NPA and end the local armed conflict in Region 1. Along with this is that, the people who have been tired in the NPA’s extortion activities for decades, have been supporting the government in the fight to win the peace.”
“We mourn the loss of our gallant soldier who died to protect the communities of Ilocos Sur, he is a hero and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. His death is an added fuel to our desire to pursue and win the peace in the Ilocos Sur,“ he added.
