NPA ambush kills 5, belies claim Quezon is NPA-free

The New People’s Army (NPA) in Quezon Province announced its ambush of government soldiers in Tagkawayan town last Friday, adding its military action belies government claims the area is now free of communist influence.

Apolonio Mendoza Command (APC)-NPA Quezon spokesperson Cleo del Mundo said the firefight started at about 7 o’clock in the morning of September 1 and lasted for more than an hour.

“Five were killed among the military while four others were wounded. The enemies fled the fighting, enabling the Red Army to safely withdraw,” del Mundo said.

“The Red Fighters were able to take five high-caliber firearms,” he added.

Meanwhile, 85^th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (85^th IBPA) commander Lt. Col. Joel Jonson said the five fatalities were elements of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit.

Jonson did not mention the number of wounded and their respective units.

He added that the incident is a big challenge to their declaration of “Stable Internal Peace and Security” in Tagkawayan and in the entire Quezon Province.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and Quezon governor Angelina Tan declared just last June 15 that the province is free of NPA influence.

Del Mundo however said their successful ambush is proof that the NPA remains in Quezon due to the popular support of the people.

The spokesperson added that the ambush is their punishment of the 85^th IBPA’s human rights violations of the masses who suffered tortured, harassments and killings.

Del Mundo said the NPA in the province has documented around 20,000 cases of rights violations under the Rodrigo Duterte government.

“We will not be defeated…because our revolution is just,” del Mundo added.

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chief information officer Marco Valbuena lauded the APC for its victory.

“The successful ambush in Quezon, following the recent tactical offensives in Negros and Masbate, clearly demonstrates the robust armed resistance being waged by the NPA against all-out state terrorism under the US-Marcos fascist regime,” Valbuena said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)