5 rebels killed in Matial Law anniversary clashes in Cagayan

September 22, 2021 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (September 22, 2021) – Government troops killed at least five communist guerillas and seized war materiel in a two hour intense gunfight early morning Tuesday in the mountainous areas in bara gay Dungeg, Sta Teresita, Cagayan province.
Soldiers from the 501st Infantry Brigade taking cue from an information on rebel hideouts in the area, clashed with more or less 40 rebels belonging to the Komiteng Probinsiya Cagayan, Komiteng Rehiyon – Cagayan Valley (KR-CV) for about two hours.
Close air and fire support were immediately delivered to support the ground troops from enemy counter fires and anti-personnel mines (APM), the soldiers claimed.
Overpowered, rebels fled to different directions leaving their five still unidentified comrades and 3 high powered firearms, five 5 Anti-personnel Mines (APM), five handheld radios, four cellphones, assorted medical supplies and equipment, rebel documents and other personal belongings.
“The accurate information provided by the locals and the timely, precise and well-coordinated actions of the ground troops and the Philippine Air Force led to this decisive engagement against the terrorist NPAs without any casualties on the government forces and the civilians,” the Northern Luzon Command said.
The recovered APMs, Nolcom added, shows the rebels’ continuous violation and complete disregard of the International Humanitarian Law particularly the Ottawa Treaty which prohibits the production and use of anti-personnel mines.
According to operating troopers, rebels were foraging and extorting money from villagers.

Artemio A. Dumlao