NPA plot to liquidate top Army officials uncovered in Nueva Ecija

RIZAL, Nueva Ecija — A plot of the New People’s Army (NPA) to liquidate top Army officials of the 7th infantry division, including its commander Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza, was uncovered after a gunbattle between government troopers and armed rebels in Barangay Overflow here last Friday.

Col. Jovenal Narcise, commander of the 702nd infantry battalion, said that two of the rebels, identified as Cesar Santos alias Ka Jay-R of Barangay Paco Roman and Mar Esguerra alias Ka Deo of Barangay Gulod in this town, were captured during the firefight.

Another suspected rebel identified as Magiting Banua alias Ka Meg or Ka Randy was wounded, but managed to dive into a deep irrigation canal. He was carried away by strong currents and was believed to have drowned.

Narcise said that troopers from the 71st infantry battalion and the 46th military intelligence company (MICO) raided a suspected safehouse of a liquidation squad of the NPA early Friday morning in Barangay Overflow after gathering intelligence reports that the rebels were planning to liquidate an unidentified person in Guimba town.

The troopers, led by Lt. Col. William Campos, engaged a group of armed rebels in the safehouse a brief firefight.

The rebels fled, even as their two comrades were cornered by the soldiers.

The government troopers seized two M 16 rifles, two rifle grenades, two short magazines for M 16, 40 rounds of M 16 ammunitions, and subversive documents from the rebels.

Narcise said that the documents included a list of military officials up for liquidation. The list included Braganza, Campos, Narcise, and other officials of the 71st infantry battalion, as well as ranking officials of MICO.

As of yesterday, military authorities were still interrogating the suspected rebels for more information on their liquidation plans. – Ding Cervantes