Government troopers beat off NPA infiltration attempt in Zamboanga Del Norte

MANILA — Troopers from the 55th Infantry Battalion were able to drive a New People’s Army (NPA) group who were trying to infiltrate at Sitio Basak, Domogok, Siayan town, Zamboanga Del Norte Monday.

Reports forwarded by 1st Infantry Division spokesperson, Capt. Franco Suelto Wednesday, said the Aug. 18 encounter with the rebel band took place around 8: 12 a.m.

He added that civilians reported the NPA presence to them.

The 55th Infantry Battalion is one of the field units of the 1st Infantry Battalion.

Suelto said that while their soldiers were trying to flank the NPA positions, heavy burst of gunfire fired directed at the responding troopers, prompting government forces to retaliate.

Durin the brief exchange, the rebels scampered off to different directions leaving behind their cooking paraphernalia, backpacks, and subversive documents with high-intelligence value.

No one was hurt on the government side while undetermined casualties were inflicted on the NPA side as evidenced by blood trails.

“These skirmishes between the Army and NPAs are proofs that the community despises the presence of the NPA in their midst. The people know the NPA banditry and anti-development intentions. They will immediately report the presence of these armed group to soldiers. This is the recurring theme in the whole Western Mindanao in terms of the NPA threat,” 1st Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Gerardo F. Barrientos said.

“The ‘Tabak’ (1st Infantry) Division will relentlessly pursue the armed NPAs thru its focused military operations until peace reigns in the communities. The stakeholders are already committed in ‘Winning the Peace’ while the community felt the fruits of the Bayanihan Teams peace and development activities. The key here is to sustain the gains of the peace and development initiatives of the government.

A genuine just and lasting peace can be achieved,” he concluded.