Army: On its 2nd week of heightened operations in Aurora and Nueva Ecija
BONGABON, Nueva Ecija - Heightened internal security operations by the
members of the Army's 702nd Infantry Brigade, 7th Infantry Division in
the tri-boundaries of Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya last month
have resulted to a series of successful armed engagements with the
Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).
From January 26 to February 1 alone, a total of seven armed engagements
occurred resulting to six killed and several others wounded on the
CPP-NPA side.
The series of armed engagements started on January 26, when troops under
Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano, battalion commander of the Army's 71st
Infantry Battalion encountered NPA terrorists under a certain Ely Taray
Agmaliw alias Omeng in Brgy Decoliat, Maria Aurora, Aurora .
The following day, troops under the Army's 48th Infantry Battalion under
Lt. Col. Elias Escarcha clashed with NPA terrorists led by a certain
Benjamin Peralta alias Onil in Brgy Putol, Maria Aurora, Aurora.
On January 28, two separate armed engagements occurred between the Army
troops of 71st IB and NPA terrorists. The first one occurred at Sitio
Dimani, Brgy Villa Aurora, Maria Aurora, Aurora and the second one in
Brgy Napon- Napon, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.
On January 31, troops under the Army's Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
encountered undetermined number of NPA terrorists in Brgy Napon-Napon,
Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. On same day at about 11 a.m., troops from 71st
IB while onboard an M35 truck were fired upon by undetermined number of
NPA terrorists who were surreptitiously positioned along Km 5 road,
Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.
The latest incident occurred on February 1 when a military vehicle of
71st IB was again fired upon by suspected NPA terrorists along
Pantabangan to Aurora national road in Brgy Marikit, Pantabangan, Nueva
Ecija. This NPA terrorist act was strongly denounced by the civilian
populace as it could have endangered innocent civilians who were also
along the national road.
Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the Army's 702nd Infantry
Brigade appealed to the NPA terrorists to take the path of peace and
return to the folds of the law instead.
"We assure those rebels who want to lay down their arms and join
mainstream society that we will help them, but we shall relentlessly
pursue those who continue to sow terror. The Social Integration Program
(SIP) of the government awaits those who will take the path of peace,"
said BGen Bautista. He further appealed to the NPA commanders to allow
their comrades, who wish to return to a peaceful life, to come down.
The Social Integration Program (SIP) of the government offers livelihood
for those rebels who want to renounce their armed struggle. It presents
an opportunity for rebels to return to their families and communities
and avail themselves of a comprehensive package which include initial
financial assistance, livelihood training to go with a provision for
initial capital, and remuneration for firearms surrendered. As much as
P120,000 or more may be made available to them depending on the number
and type of firearms surrendered. This program ensures that the rebel
returnee is secured and fully reintegrated back to society. It also
capitalizes on the desire of would-be rebel returnees to live normal
lives in the comfort of their families, away from harm's way and
difficulties of living in the mountains. #
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