PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

27 Army soldiers killed in NPA ambush in Isabela
February 13, 2005

Up to 27 fascist troops belonging to Charlie Company of the Philippine Army 45th IB were killed and three seriously wounded in an ambush by NPA Red fighters on January 24 in Sitio Kayangading, Dicamay Uno, Jones, Isabela, according to belated reports from the NPA Benito Tesorio Command operating in southern Isabela.

The report contradicts earlier statements by the military that "three or ten" NPA fighters have been slain and that AFP casualties consisted of only three wounded soldiers in a series of firefights that have allegedly been raging in the area since January 24.

In a separate statement, Fortunato Camus Command (NPA-Northeastern Luzon) spokesperson Victor Servidores disclosed that the ambushed Philippine Army unit was part of a larger contingent under the 502nd Brigade that had been conducting massive military operations in the towns of Jones, Echague and San Guillermo several days prior to the NPA offensive.

At that time, an NPA platoon in the area was conducting a campaign against large-scale logging operations, urging and organizing the people to defend the remaining woodlands of the Forest Region to prevent the occurrence in Isabela of the floods, landslides and other calamities that devastated Aurora and Quezon provinces late last year.

On the day of the ambush, three Philippine Army platoons were conducting house searches in Barrio Dicamay Uno. At around 7 a.m., the AFP detached a platoon to scour the nearby forested area. Unknown to them, the NPA was waiting in ambush after receiving prompt reports from the masses about the enemy's movements.

The NPA commenced firing at around 7:20 a.m., immediately inflicting a big number of casualties on the enemy. The two other Philippine Army platoons stationed nearby tried to extend support by pounding the NPA position with heavy mortar and rifle fire.

The enemy bombardment failed to deter the Red fighters from the ambush. The gunbattle lasted for an hour and a half before the NPA platoon retreated to safety.

The fighting was all over when additional Philippine Army troops arrived at the scene escorted by two bomber planes, an MG520 helicopter, a Huey helicopter and two armored personnel carriers.

Punishment

In a statement, Benito Tesorio Command spokesperson Ka Delio Baladon said the NPA ambush served to punish the 502nd Brigade for its long list of crimes in the course of suppressing the peasant masses' struggle against feudal and semifeudal exploitation and for genuine land reform.

Baladon also denounced the 502nd Brigade for protecting big-time loggers in the forested areas of San Mariano, San Guillermo, Echague and Jones in Isabela.

CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal congratulated the Isabela Red fighters for the successful ambush, saying that it "underscores the determination of the NPA to punish the worst violators of human rights and protectors of wanton logging."

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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