By Raydes B. Barcia
Legazpi City – A week after the military in Bicol scored against the communist movement wherein five rebels were killed in encounter in Masbate, the New People’s Army on the other hand killed a junior officer of the Philippine Army while three others injured after a landmine detonated in Barangay Ramay, Oas town in Albay.
Army Capt. Frank Roldan, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division said that the casualty was identified as 2Lt. Nico Malcampo of the 49th Infantry Battalion.
Based on the report, the group of Army 2nd Lt. Malcampo responded to the residents’ complaint about the NPA’s extortion activities in a construction project in the area, when the members of the communist insurgent detonated an anti-personnel mine, killing Malcampo and injuring three other soldiers.
Though, Malcampo’s team were able to repulse the government’s enemy in which according to a military report one member of NPA was also killed.
The members of the rebels fled after the exchange of gunfire.
The government troops recovered three high-caliber guns, and other items belonging to the communist insurgents.
Major General Adonis Bajao, commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry (Spear) Division and of Joint Task Force Bicolandia strongly condemned the rebels for employing the treacherous assault using anti-personnel mine that killed Malcampo, father of one-year old baby girl and wounding three other soldiers.
Bajao said that the treacherous attack by the NPA, is against International Humanitarian Law.
“The military will hold those responsible for the incident accountable that killed the precious life of2nd Lt. Malcampo,” Bajao lamented.
This is the first time that the New People’s Army killed an army officer in the past few years in Bicol.
Last week, five members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in a military encounter in Barangay Gujom, Cawayan in the island province of Masbate Army Capt. Frank Roldan, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division identified the slain NPA members as Rufino Alba alias Kaloy, commanding officer; Biroc Noynay alias Marjon; Jerome Sabang; Patrocenio Aton; and Reneboy Versaga, all members of Platoon 1, Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsya 4.
The military official also said that Jimuel Naraja alias Angel and Highblood, also of Platoon 1, Larangan2, Komiteng Probinsya 4, was injured during the firefight a week ago.(Raydes B. Barcia)