On August 21, a unit of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Albay (Santos Binamera Command) ambushed a 16-member 49th IB squad operating in Barangay Palapas, Ligao City, Albay Province. At least three fascist soldiers were killed and one reportedly wounded in the ambush.
The NPA-Albay reported that the 49th IB troopers were attempting to raid the said unit’s temporary camp. The people’s army detected the military’s movement and immediately carried out a decisive action against the soldiers.
To cover up its defeat, the 49th IB concealed the deaths of the three soldiers. In the news, the 49th IB only admitted to the wounding of a Charlie Company trooper identified as Pvt. Dani. A Ratsada Bareta broadcast of Eagle FM 92.7 Naga reported that the wounded soldier was rushed to a hospital in Ligao City and later transferred to a hospital in Legazpi.
Contrary to the military’s statement, no Red fighters of the NPA-Albay were injured and the unit safely withdrew.
NPA-Albay spokesperson Ka Florante Orobia said the successful action resulted from the people’s army’s vigilance and readiness to actively defend against enemy attacks. He added that effective intelligence and the broad support the NPA receives from the masses were crucial.
“The readiness and determination displayed by the unit were the result of renewed exercises and training by the Red fighters to overcome previously identified weaknesses,” Ka Florante added. He called on all NPA-Albay units to continue maintaining an offensive posture to ensure more victories in the revolutionary armed struggle.
Throughout the month of August, multiple armed actions and active defenses by NPA units against attacking Armed Forces of the Philippines troopers were reported. These were recorded in the Provinces of Aurora, Mindoro Oriental, Quezon, and Capiz.
Communist Party of the Philippines’ information officer Ka Marco L. Valbuena said that these series of battles disprove Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s July claim that “no guerrilla groups remain” in the country.
Source : https://philippinerevolution.nu/angbayan/npa-albay-ambushes-49th-ibs-16-member-squad/