TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon – The military condemned the ambush of five Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit-Active Auxiliary members on Friday morning, September 1, in Sitio Pag-asa, Barangay Mapulot, here.
The Armed Forces-Southern Luzon Command feted the five militiamen – Cesar Sales, Jeffrey San Antonio, Aldon James Rapa, Johnwell Perez, and Jomari Guno, residents of this town – for making the ultimate sacrifice.
“We are giving our salute to these brave Filipinos who willingly gave their lives in the service of our country. They died protecting the community against these communist terrorists,” Solcom said.
Solcom said the NPA rebels from the Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC) may have come from Camarines Sur and planned to infiltrate and retake their old haven, Barangay Mapulot, where the late NPA spokesman Gregorio Rosal, alias “Ka Roger,” used to hold sway.
Residents detected and reported their presence to the military which sent a CAA squad from the Mapulot Detachment of the 85th Infantry Battalion to check but was ambushed by the NPA, resulting in a 30-minute gun battle.
Wounded in the encounter were CAAs Regie Macalintal and Lauro de Guzman and Corporal Marvinjun Oller Jr. of the 85th IB. They were now recovering in a hospital.
Barangay Mapulot is 500 meters away from the boundary of this town with the municipality of Labo in Camarines Norte.
SOLCOM said families of the casualties have been notified and their remains transported to funeral homes.
Solcom said despite the ambush, the province remains insurgency free, and will make sure it stays that way. It said that they will continue to support eliminating communist rebels and secure communities in the area to enable the people to have peaceful, united, and prosperous lives.