ILOILO City – An undetermined number of New People Army (NPA) rebels ambushed 16 members of their splinter group Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) in Barangay Cunsad, Alimodian, Iloilo yesterday at around 7:30 a.m.
The RPA-ABB men were from Barangay Abang-Abang, Alimodian town. They fired back at the NPA rebels.
The attacking NPA rebels belonged to the Sibat Platoon, Southern Front Committee, according to the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, Captain Cenon Pancito III.
The exchange of fire lasted for some 10 minutes. The NPA rebels retreated toward Leon town.
“The NPA rebels did not stay long. They were afraid they would be cornered. We deployed additional soldiers in the area,” said Pancito.
Prior to the ambush, a loud explosion was heard. Pancito said it was likely an improvised explosive device, but there were no reports of injuries or deaths.
Just this Sunday, Jan. 12, NPA rebels clashed with RPA-ABB members in Barangay Camia, San Joaquin, Iloilo.
One RPA-ABB member, 34-year-old Ramie Cataluña of Barangay Danao, Janiuay, Iloilo, was wounded. He was treated at the San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital.
The encounter happened at around 4:30 p.m.
Cataluña and four other companions were ambushed by seven NPA rebels, according to Police Staff Sergeant Hector Sandig of the San Joaquin police station.
The attacking NPA rebels belonged to the Southern Front Committee, said Sandig.
The RPA-ABB fired back for several minutes until the NPA rebels retreated.
Pancito expressed support to the RPA-ABB which became an active partner of the military after entering into a peace agreement with the national government in 2000.
Pancito said the RPA-ABB is a “potent threat” to the NPA.
In attacking the RPA-ABB, the NPA wanted to send a message to their former comrades, said Pancito, that the NPA would be running after its splinter group for now supporting the government.
“On our part, we continue to see the significance of our RPA-ABB comrades. We fully support them,” said Pancito.
The formation of the RPA was a result of an ideological split with the NPA and Communist Party of the Philippines in the mid-1990s.
The ABB, the urban assassination unit of the NPA, allied itself with the RPA, thus born the RPA-ABB.
In 1999 the RPA-ABB engaged in peace negotiations with the national government of then President Joseph Estrada. A truce was established in December 2000./PN
