5 CAFGUs dead in clash with suspected NPAs in Quezon
Five members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were killed following a deadly encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Tagkawayan, Quezon on Friday morning, August 1.
Lt. Col. Hector Estolas, spokesperson of the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID), said the encounter occurred around 7 a.m. in Sitio Pag-Asa, Barangay Mapulot which borders Tagkawayan town and the municipality of Labo in Camarines Norte.
“Our CAFGUs are patrolling the area with one of our soldiers in Barangay Mapulot when they encountered the armed group. They were hit by an anti-personnel mine first before being fired upon by the enemies,” Estolas said.
Aside from those killed, two more militiamen under the CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) Detachment Mapulot and the lone soldier from the 85th Infantry Battalion were also wounded in the encounter.
Accordingly, there was a tip about the presence of around 60 to 70 armed men in the area so the CAFGUs and the military coordinated a patrol operation.
“Inaksyunan nila ‘yung information tapos nagkaabangan (They acted on the information and then the two groups anticipated each other's movement),” said Col. Dennis Cana, spokesperson of the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM).
As of writing, the military’s pursuit operation against the rebels was still ongoing.
Estolas believes that the group encountered by the troops came from Bicol and not from Quezon.
“Last June 12, the province of Quezon had already been declared stable when it comes to internal peace and security so if these are really perpetrated by NPAs, they are not from Quezon. Probably they are from Bicol who are passing through,” Estolas said.
“The incident happened at the boundary of Camarines Norte and Quezon,” he noted.
The 2ID has identified the slain CAFGUs but they appealed to the media to withheld the release of their names pending notice of their respective families.