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NPA ambush kills 9 gov’t troopers

60 years after Fall of Besang Pass

BAGUIO CITY (June 14) — At the tail end of World War II, Filipino soldiers defeated retreating Japanese forces at Besang Pass.

Only a few days before the 60th Anniversary of the Fall of Besang Pass, nine government soldiers were reportedly slain while three others were seriously hurt when communist guerillas opened fire at an Army truck in Brgy. Malaya, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur at around 4 p.m. on Monday, police and military authorities say.

Killed on the spot were Corporals (CPL) Alvin Rambac, Ariel Ramos, and Jerry Ferrer; Privates First Class (PFC) Jerwin Jarvin, and Normal Usbal; Privates Jeffrey Jacinto, Dominador Galicia, Wensel Comador and Ricardo Ninalga.

Ilocos Sur police identified those wounded as Platoon leader Lt. Immanuel Latay, Staff Sgt. Dominic Callueng, and PFC Josefino Limos.

The soldiers belonging to the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were on their way to set up a checkpoint and secure dignitaries for the 60th anniversary of the historic “Fall of Besang Pass” on Wednesday and Thursday. The government expects a number of foreign envoys for the celebration, officials said.

Ilocos Sur police director Supt. Crispin Agno said he learned of the clash from Lt. Col. Amado Tejano, executive officer of the 503rd Infantry Brigade based in Narvacan town, Ilocos Sur that has operational control over the troopers. As this developed, Supt. Agno said he had recommended the cancellation of the Besang rites. Helicopter gunships reportedly pursued the rebels.

An emailed statement from the Alfredo Cesar Command (ACC) New People’s Army-Ilocos Sur stated that the said tactical offensive meant to deliver revolutionary justice to the people of Quirino and Cervantes who suffered human rights violations perpetrated by the 50th IB, including an attempted rape case last April.

ACC Spokesperson Ka Armando Silva said that the 50th IB has a long record of abuses against the people of Cervantes and Quirino, including violations to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

It its statement, the ACC claimed that the presence of the 50th IB meant to quicken the entry of mining firms in Quirino, specifically in Lamag. Silva claimed that on April 28, 50th IB’s Lt. Col. Pasyon allegedly called for a meeting in Quirino telling locals to support mining operations in the area. Quirino elders objected to this. The ACC spokesman added that the Army also had efforts to bust community organizations.

In a related incident, on June 3, rebels belonging to the Agustin Begnalen Command of the CPP-NPA overran a military detachment in barangay Tiempo, Tubo town, in adjacent Abra province. They carted away 29 high-powered rifles and wounded eight government troopers and militiamen, including a civilian official.

On Thursday last week, soldiers in Nueva Era town, in Ilocos Norte, reportedly killed two NPA guerillas. The soldiers captured two other NPA rebels and detained them at the Ilocos Norte provincial police office. # Artemio A. Dumlao for NORDIS

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