Army rebuffs communist insurgents in Nueva Vizcaya

MANILA, Philippines — Army soldiers repulsed heavily-armed New People's Army (NPA) insurgents reportedly planning to sow terror on residents living in peaceful communities in the hinterlands of Alfonso Castaneda, Nueva Vizcaya.

Security forces said on Thursday that after decades of peace free from the clutches of the NPA guerrillas, the inhabitants, again, saw violence as government fighter planes launched aerial attacks on NPA positions in Sitio Marikit East in Barangay Abuyo.

A brief bombardment on enemy positions was carried out to disorient and disperse the communist insurgents, the Army's 84th Infantry (Victorious) Battalion, along with the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade, said.

At least 49 families were evacuated to safety to avoid getting hit by the aerial attacks.

Acting on information from the people in the community about the presence of the rebels, the Philippine Army launched combat and aerial operations.

Lt. Col. Jerald Reyes, commander of the 84th Infantry Battalion, said the insurgents' strong position in the mountainous area of Alfonso Castaneda prompted security forces to conduct aerial operations.

Reyes said that the «heavily-armed» insurgents belong to the Kilusang Larangang Guerrilla Tarlac-Zambales that regrouped themselves for specific target areas declared as having «Stable Internal Peace and Security.»

The forested ridges of Alfonso Castaneda was a former stronghold of NPA combatants during the 1980s but was liberated by government forces.

Soldiers continue to preserve the peace, security, and development in active cooperation with the Philippine National Police, the Municipal Local Government Unit of Alfonso Castaneda, and the community, Reyes said.

«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 safe place,» he added.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Joseph Norwin Pasamonte, commander of the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade, said «Our top priority is the safety of the people in the community. We assured the public that no innocent civilians were hurt during the operation. A total of 49 families were safely evacuated with the