Army, NPA clash in Kalinga injures 2 soldiers

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, ISABELA — Two Army soldiers were wounded while assorted guns and war items were seized in two gunbattles in Balbalan town in Kalinga province on Friday, May 31.

The military said, in a report Saturday, June 1, that the armed encounters happened in Barangays (villages) Balbalan Proper and Balantoy.

Army Major Rigor Pamittan, 5th Infantry Division spokesperson and public affairs chief, told Inquirer in an interview on Saturday that the wounded Army soldiers were identified as Corporal Jonard Addatu and Private First Class Rojemar Cuyen, both of the 98th Infantry Battalion based in Kalinga.

Army soldiers under the 103rd Infantry Battalion and 98th Infantry Battalion, both under the 5th Infantry Division’s 503rd Infantry Brigade, engaged in gunfights with 10 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels under the Komiteng Larangang Guerilla (KLG) Baggas in Balbalan Proper at 10:30 a.m. Another encounter followed at 1 p.m. in Balantoy village.

READ: Army remains vigilant as NPA told to mount attacks vs troops

Seized at the Balbalan Proper clash site were an M14 Armalite rifle, a Springfield rifle, assorted guns, two improvised explosive devices (IED), blasting devices, and personal belongings.

The two soldiers were wounded at the clash in Balantoy village.

Seized in the second encounter site were M16 Armalite rifle, a backpack, an IED, blasting caps, medicines, anti-government documents, and personal items.