Soldiers foil NPA atrocities in Nueva Vizcaya town

MANILA – Troopers from the 84th Infantry Battalion (84IB) of the Philippine Army repelled the criminal activities of the New People's Army (NPA) at a village in the mountainous area of Alfonso Castañeda town in Nueva Vizcaya on Thursday.

Lt. Col. Jerald Reyes, 84IB commander, said in a social media post of the 7th Infantry Division that an aerial attack was conducted on the exact location of the enemy after residents of Sitio Marikit East, Barangay Abuyo reported the presence of the communist terrorist group (CTG) to authorities.

The 84th Infantry Battalion is under the control of the 703rd Infantry Brigade of the Nueva Ecija-based 7th Infantry Division.

There are no reports of casualties following the operation as of this posting. Residents in the area were safely evacuated after the military operation.

Reyes said the NPA members were believed to be heavily armed and from the "Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla Tarlac – Zambales" who have grouped themselves to attack areas declared under a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security.

"The Army, as the protector of the people and as part of our sworn mandate, responded to the concerns of the community as the CTG was harassing them. In response, (we) conducted combat and aerial operations to locate the enemy to prevent them from harming the civilians," he added.

Soldiers continue to preserve the peace, security, and development in active cooperation with the Philippine National Police, Alfonso Castañeda municipal government unit and the community.

"We thank the local officials of Barangay Abuyo for initiating loudspeaker operations in their community to calm the residents and help the families evacuate to a safer place," Reyes said. (PNA)