Government Forces Encounter NPA in Zamboanga del Norte

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR  (Jan. 25, 2014 Pagadian FRONTLINE NEWS)  – The government forces belong to the Aplha company of 10^th Infantry Battalion under the 101^st Brigade of the Army’s Premier Infantry (TABAK) Division had encountered more or less forty members of New People Army (NPA) yesterday at about 9:00 o’clock in the morning with no casualties on government side.

The army under 1Lt Arlene Q. Palafos and 2Lt Arrian Hector B. Inopia encountered the NPA members at the boundaries of sitio San Isidro, barangay Sta. Maria and sitio Lapanan barangay Morob in the municipality of Leon B. Postego, Zamboang del Norte was in response to a report by concerned citizens regarding the presence of the armed men, Division Public Affair Office (DPAO) Officer In charge Major Edmundo P. Abella said.  
  

Major Abella said that the the firefight was ensued and lasted for one and half hours and the army were able to outmanoeuvre the NPAs who were occupying the high ground but the enemies withdrew and escaped towards south and southeast direction when reinforcement arrived.

The fleeing NPAs sustained several casualties and brought along with them undetermined number of wounded comrades as evidenced by the bloodstains in their routes of withdrawal, the Military Official said.

The government troops recovered assorted propaganda paraphernalia, personal belongings, military uniform, food supplies, various subversive documents of high intelligence value and several empty shells of AK47, M16 and M14 rifles.

Elements of Philippine Army scoured the area while elements of Leon B Postigo Municipal Police Station led by Police Inspector Norman B. Tabamo dispatched to area and served blocking force along the possible escape route of the fleeing CNN members. 

Military operations was continuously ongoing since yesterday to track down the fleeing NPA members.