Army beefs up forces in NPA strongholds in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — The Armed Forces has sent in more troops to this northern province as more New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have been sighted here following the Army’s capture of a major NPA camp in remote Baggao town last Nov. 1

Backed by troops from the Northern Luzon Command based at Camp Nakar in Tarlac, the Army’s 5th Infantry Division fielded more troops in several remote towns suspected to be strongholds of communist rebels.

Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Alvarado, 5th ID chief, said the deployment of more troops was in response to growing NPA activities and threats in retaliation for the fall of its major camp in Baggao town after an All Saint’s Day encounter where at least six of its fighters were killed and scores more from both sides were wounded.

Alvarado said the rebels are doing everything to make their presence felt in the province after their All Saint’s Day setback.

He said the ambush-killing of four civilians in Isabela last Friday was part of the NPA’s retaliatory activities.

He said more ground troops, reinforced by a reconnaissance plane and helicopter gunships, have been deployed to track down rebels in the dense forests of the Sierra Madre mountain.

Reports said at least three battalions of the 501st Infantry Brigade based in Alcala town were dispatched last Friday to Baggao and neighboring Gattaran town and to remote areas in eastern Cagayan where NPA rebels are reportedly concentrated.