NPA clash leaves 27 dead

PANDI, Bulacan – Five policemen, two soldiers and an estimated 20 communist rebels were killed in Bulacan as the communist New People’s Army (NPA) marked its 34th anniversary on Saturday, the police and military announced yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Camp Olivas, Pampanga, said that while the bodies of only two rebels were recovered from the encounter site in Barangay Pulong Yantok in nearby Angat town, residents said at least 18 others were killed in the gun battle.

"(The) situation now has been stabilized and government forces are in total control," Braganza said.

Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, Bulacan police intelligence chief, identified the slain policemen as Chief Inspector Esperidito Delgado, deputy group director of the 305th Provincial Mobile Group; PO1 Israel Fajardo and PO1 Edwin Cruz, both assigned at the 305th PMG; PO1 Benjie Hernandez of the 306th PMG, and PO3 Elpidio Reyes of the Meycauayan police.

The dead soldiers were identified only as Pfc. Andres and Pfc. Basilio, both of the 56th Infantry Battalion while the rebel casualties were identified as Arnel San Juan, 23 of Barangay Sibul in San Miguel town, and Norber Ortega, a native of Palawan.

Gunnacao said the authorities also recovered an M16 assault rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, and subversive documents from the encounter site after the clearing operations yesterday morning.

However, Gunnacao told The STAR the remnants of the 70-strong rebel band escaped the military-police dragnet.

Military sources said the rebels were reportedly having an assembly in commemoration of their 34th anniversary at a farm in Barangay Pulong Yantok in Angat but a resident informed authorities of the rebel gathering.

The police deployed the 305th and 306th Provincial Mobile Group at around 5:15 a.m. of Saturday but NPA snipers stationed on higher ground were able to pin down the policemen at a creek approaching the farm.

Several hours later, elements of the 56th IB and three B150 armored personnel carriers arrived to augment the policemen who pursued the rebels to Barangay Siling Matanda here.

Government forces wounded in the day-long gun battle were PO1 Juan Aquilo, Inspector Lauro Apostol, Inspector Rodolfo Solomon, PO3 Elpidio Reyes, Superintendent Fernando Villanueva, group director of the 306th PMG and Army Cpl. Mario Marron.

Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Oscar Calderon said "the NPA was planning a major offensive to commemorate its anniversary."

"The residents said that the rebels had even prepared roasted pig for their commemoration," Braganza said, quoting reports reaching Camp Olivas.

"The plan was to raid the police stations at the Pandi and Angat municipal hall and cart away the arms of the police. We also got information the rebels had planned to swoop down on the plant of Continental cement firm in Angat," Braganza said.

"It was a psychological victory for the people of Pandi since they were the ones who reported to us the presence of the NPA rebels," Braganza said.