Suspected NPA rebels clashed again with the Philippine military, wounding two soldiers in Negros Occidental on the same day that President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to “finish all” and declare Martial Law against the communist rebels.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said police officers and soldiers were conducting an information drive about COVID-19 in Sitio Sicaba, Barangay Gawahon when they clashed with gunmen believed to be members of New People’s Army (NPA) around 8 a.m.
The fight left two soldiers of 79th Infantry Battalion wounded, Pasaporte said. There were no immediate details yet on casualties from among the rebels.
The troops recovered two homemade bombs, two blasting caps, a bandolier, and subversive documents in the clash scene.
On Sunday, April 19, NPA rebels killed three soldiers and injured four others when they clashed with the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Carabalan in Himamaylan City, Negros.
2nd Lt. Ralf Amante Abibico, who also died in the attack, lead the troops in securing the area where the social amelioration grant was being distributed.
Abibico’s team pursued the NPA rebels after they learned they were extorting food and money from residents. As they were closing in, the terrorists threw an improvised explosive device and lobbed grenades at them.
Cpl. Joel Nobleza and Pfc. Carl Venice Bustamante also died in the attack.
Also read: NPA kills 2 soldiers securing DWSD cash aid distribution in Aurora
Duterte vs. NPA
President Rodrigo Duterte warned that he might declare Martial Law if NPA rebels would continue to kill the government’s soldiers, during his public address aired Friday.
“Kaya ngayon’ pag nagpatuloy kayo ng lawlessness niyo, patay dito, patay doon, maybe I will declare martial law because kayong mga NPA ang numero uno,” Duterte said.
(If you continue with your lawlessness, killing here and there, maybe I will declare martial law because you NPAs are instigators.)
Duterte also said he would try to “finish” the NPA rebels in the remaining two years of his term as the President of the Philippines.
“Ang utos ko sa kanila, ‘Patayin kayo? O di patayin ninyo sila.’ Lahat na. Tapusin na natin ito sa panahon ko. I have two more years. I will try to finish all of you,” he said.
(My order to them, if they are going to kill you, then kill them. All of them. Let us finish them in my time. I have two more years. I will try to finish all of you.)