Rebels killed in 2 encounters

PILI, Camarines Sur --- Major General Fernando Trinidad, 9th Infantry Division Commander, called on members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) to surrender their weapons, return to the fold of law and reunite with their loved ones.

This, after the government troopers scored anew in the battle to end insurgency in the outskirts of the province. The troopers were elements from 902nd Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Battalion, 83rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and personnel from the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office

Trinidad said that if only the rebels will see the sincerity of the government in its peace offering as evidenced by the various programs it offers for rebel returnees, then no innocent lives will be lost and every community will live in harmony.

Trinidad was referring to the financial and livelihood assistance being extended by the government thru the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) that rebels can avail of once they decide to live peacefully and embrace nonviolent co-existence with the people in the community as productive citizens. Only recently, two bloody encounters ended the lives of 4 armed rebels.

The first encounter took place last June 28 in Brgy. Mampirao in the coastal municipality of Caramoan, Camarines Sur. Two rebels were killed. Recovered from the scene of the encounter were six 5.56mm M16 rifles, one 5.56mm M653 rifle, one improvised anti-personnel IED, other war materials and subversive documents. Two days after, another firefight ensued between the government troopers the rebels during an encounter last July 1, Monday, in Barangay San Vicente, Lupi, Camarines Sur.

Casualties in the Lupi encounter were identified as Roni Abellada Boncolmo a.k.a Jake, 45 years old and a resident of Barangay Patalunan, Ragay, Camarines Sur. Ka Jake is the alleged commanding officer of the Komite Seksyon, Platun1 of Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsya 1 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC) and another one, identified only as Ka Oris/Ka Cris.

Also killed in the encounter at Sitio Mauban, Barangay Mampirao, Caramoan, Camarines Sur were Norberto Balcueva alyas Ka Obet or Ka Arlo, 50 years old, of Barangay Poloan, Caramoan and Salvador Remoto, 46 years old, of Brgy. Pili, Presentacion, Camarines Sur.

Recovered at the scene of the encounter site were six 5.56mm M16 rifles and one (1) 5.56mm M653 rifle.

In a press statement, Major Ricky Aguilar, Army 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) spokesperson, said that the Philippine Army will continue to protect the communities in the hinterlands while calling on the rebels to abandon armed struggle and embrace peace. with reports from DPAO,MAguilar-PIAV/Camarines Sur)