Soldiers appeal to Ifugao NPA: Let us treat your wounded comrades

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Government troopers who are pursuing fleeing communist rebels they fought four days ago in remote Asipulo town, Ifugao are appealing to let soldiers attend to their wounded comrades.

“We value lives although the NPA (New People’s Army) are considered the enemy of the state,” said Lt. Col. Nicolas Quemado, commander of the Philippine Army’s 54th Infantry Battalion whose men are now running after communist rebels in the hinterlands between Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya.  

On August 14, government troopers and rebels fought for five minutes in Barangay Camandag. No one from the government was killed nor wounded though the soldiers believed a number of rebels were hit.

Army Captain Jefferson Somera, spokesperson of the 54th Infantry said, villagers tipped them of the presence of NPA rebels in Camandag, prompting a team of Army troopers to head to the area and verify.

Upon closing in to the barangay, rebels immediately fired at the approaching government troops ensuing into a five-minute firefight.

Overpowered, the communist rebels reportedly withdrew towards the northwest, carrying with them their wounded, Somera said.

A backpack containing personal belongings, numerous medical paraphernalia, medicines, documents, a short magazine for an M16 rifle, and an improvised claymore mine.

“We encourage the NPA to leave their wounded comrades to local officials in the town,” Lt. Col. Quemado appealed, vowing, “we will give them safe conduct pass if need.”

Asipulo is reportedly one of the towns in Ifugao where rebels under the Nona del Rosario Command of the CPP-NPA abound, though government troops and rebels claim that the rebels come from nearby Nueva Vizcaya.

Several years ago, a platoon of government troopers were killed when they were ambushed by communist guerillas in the same village.