RECOVERED. The firearms and ammunition recovered on Thursday (June 27, 2024) after an encounter between government soldiers and New People's Army members in Barangay Malbang, Pantabangan town in Nueva Ecija the day before. The Philippine Army's 84th Infantry Battalion also found three bodies of female rebels in the encounter site. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)
BALER, Aurora – The Philippine Army’s 84th Infantry Battalion (84IB) found the bodies of three female New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the hinterlands of Barangay Malbang, Pantabangan town in Nueva Ecija province on Thursday, the 703rd Infantry Brigade (703IBgde) based in the municipality of Bongabon said Friday.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Norwin Pasamonte, 703IBgde commanding officer, said in an interview that the 84th Infantry Battalion (IB) found the three cadavers along with four firearms, a day after an encounter in the area.
He said the two slain rebels were identified as Andrie dela Cruz (alias “Lay/Rowen/Lunti), political instructor of Platun Silangan Gitnang Luzon, and Azase Galang (alias “Cha”).
The other female was yet to be identified.
Pasamonte added that the bodies were found a few meters away from the exit route of the encounter site.
It was believed that they were abandoned by their comrades from the Komiteng Rehiyon Gitnang Luzon of the NPA when they withdrew from the encounter site on Wednesday.
The latest development brought to 10 the total number of slain rebels.
All the slain rebels were brought to funeral homes in Pantabangan and will be turned over to their families.
Pasamonte reiterated his call to the remaining members of the NPA to surrender and give peace a chance.
He also commended the 84IB troops for their victory against the communist terrorist group and for their commitments to preserve the peace and security.
“We would like to express our sympathy to the bereaved families of those who died and I am saddened that they reached this point. Hindi nagkukulang ang gobyerno sa panawagan na sumuko na at magbagong buhay. Handa ang gobyernong tanggapin ang may gustong yakapin ang kapayapaan para makapiling ang kanilang pamilya. Nawa’y magsilbi itong aral sa mga natitirang CTG na ipinaglalaban ang kanilang huwad na ideolohiya (The government is not remiss in calling on them to surrender and lead a new life. The government is ready to accept those who want to embrace peace in order to be with their family. May this serve as a lesson to the remaining CTG members who are fighting for their false ideology),” Pasamonte said. (PNA)
