NPA killed, soldier wounded in Kalinga clash

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A New People's Army guerrilla was killed by government forces on Saturday afternoon in a 30-minute running gun battle in a remote village in Balbalan, Kalinga.

Balbalan is the hometown of Kalinga Rep. Jesse Mangaoang.

Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Battalion were reportedly conducting security patrol when they chanced upon communist guerillas at around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, sparking a firefight.

An NPA guerrilla fell and soldiers seized an M16 assault rifle, two short magazines and and 46 bullets.

Army Capt. Jefferson Somera, public affairs chief of the Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division, said they have not identified the NPA member killed in the encounter.

PFC Robin Managuelod, though, was wounded during the firefight. Somera said the soldier is now in stable condition.

Maj. Gen. Paul Atal, commanding general of the 5th ID, reminded troops to remain vigilant and continue sustaining peace and support development in the Cordillera and Cagayan Valley regions.

NPAs urged to surrender

He also urged communist guerrillas “to please return to the folds of the law and let us settle our differences in a peaceful manner as we are all brother Filipinos supposed to be uniting as one nation against possible external threats to our National Security."

The Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army are in peace talks with the government through the National Democratic Front.

Both negotiating panels have agreed to declare a bilateral ceasefire but have yet to agree on the guidelines.

Earlier this week, a female medical officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA) surrendered in Mt. Province.

Catherine Cebuma Cortez alias “Ka Lora, Ka Apple and Ka Joey,” who claimed she was a medical officer of “Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla Montes,”  under the Mt. Province-based Leonardo Pacsi Command of the CPP-NPA surrendered  to the 24th Infantry Battalion on May 8 at Barangay Layugan, Bucay, Abra.

Cortez also gave up her M16A1 assault, a rifle grenade, two magazines and 60 bullets.

Last week, a communist guerrilla also in Mt. Province gave himeslf up to authorities, saying he could no longer continue what he called terror actions his that his group had been launching against indigenous communities in the Cordillera.

Matthew Baluwag, alias “Ka Eddie”, also turned in a cal.30 rifle with a magazine and nine bullets to Col. Leopoldo Imbang, commander of the 503rd Infantry Brigade in Abra.

Baluwag, Imbang claimed, was active with the “Kilusang Larangang Guerilla Marco”, the group operating in Mountain Province.

Joint Task Force Tala commander Maj. Gen. Paul Atal also called on rebels to surrender, saying “we are all Filipinos and killing each other will not solve our problems.”

He  encouraged rebels to take advantage of the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program or CLIP, a program to provide former rebels an opportunity to return to their families and communities.

Baluwag was also assured he will receive all the benefits under the CLIP.