The unified Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) said in a statement yesterday that no government trooper was injured during the clash, but that an “undetermined number” was injured on the side of the rebels.
Nolcom said the firefight was between several soldiers belonging to the 84th Infantry Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division and at least 10 NPA guerillas.
Since Pres. Duterte declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as terrorists, Nolcom, in its official press releases, has been referring to NPA guerillas as either “criminals” or “terrorists.”
“The NPA Criminal Group withdrew towards Northeast direction. Two M16 rifles, two magazines for M16 Rifle, one sweatshirt and foodstuffs were recovered from the encounter site,” Nolcom said.
This, even as Nolcom reported that an NPA member identified as Ricardo David Morales has surrendered to the 32nd Mechanized Infantry Company, 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Sitio Pantol, Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac.
Morales turned over to the military one homemade shotgun with two ammunitions and one homemade .30 pistol.
Nolcom said it will “continue to provide support to Law Enforcement Operations respecting the Human Rights, ensure adherence to the Rule of Law and observance of International Humanitarian Law.”
It vowed to “persistently keep the enemy on the run and outbalanced by conducting aggressive, relentless and focused military operations (FMO) in identified NPA lairs in the areas of North and Central Luzon.”
