Reds rebut: Ambushed soldiers on combat, not relief mission in Albay

BAGUIO CITY (October 28, 2024) -- The Communist Party of the Philippines, the New Peoples Army’s political arm, insists ambushed government troopers on a supposed relief operation, ‘were on combat mission’.

The unit of the Philippine Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion went on combat operations in Barangay Matanglad, Pio Duran, Albay, which Marco Valbuena, information officer of the CPP said, led to an encounter with a unit of the New People's Army.

A soldier was hurt as confirmed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Valbuena went on to argue that government troops “tried to use the inclement weather conditions as cover for their attempted raid against the position of the NPA unit, but were tipped off by people in the area who alerted the NPA fighters in the area.” He further added, “the quick response of the NPA to the AFP combat operation allowed them to effectively and actively defend themselves, and swiftly disengage from the encounter.”



The rebel spokesman added that the military “is manipulating reports for press mileage when it claimed that the soldiers were transporting relief goods in the area, when, in fact, they were fully armed, carrying only their weapons and ready to engage in battle.”

He further claimed, “people in the area confirm that there were zero relief operations in the barangay or town, belying claims made by the AFP.” He even quoted local barangay officials who told that their barangay was not affected by the floods. “The town mayor also confirmed that the AFP conducted a combat operation based on a "tip", Valbuena added.