By Junex Doronio

MANILA — As the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is poised to observe its 55th foundation anniversary on December 26 this year, Vice President Sara Duterte has reiterated her strong resolve to wipe out with military might the Maoist insurgency and thumbed down again any form of peace talks.

In a statement issued Thursday night (December 21), Duterte recognized the “heroism” of Army Sgt. Jernell Ramillano who died during an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) on December 17.

He was reportedly killed during a clash between 2ID troopers and an NPA band in Balayan, Batangas.

Six rebels also died in the fighting.

Lt. Col. Hector Estolas, 2nd ID public affairs chief, said a certain Kyrie/Vince, a vice platoon leader of the SPP Kawing of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee’s Sub-Regional Military Area 4C, was critically wounded and was abandoned by his comrades.

He eventually died.

Two M16 rifles, an M653 rifle, a shotgun, 13 cellphones, and a laptop computer were among the items left behind by fleeing rebels.

2ID commander Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong praised Ramillano for his bravery and heroism.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) which, for nearly 55 years now, has been advocating what it calls the “protracted people’s war” formulated by Mao Zedong in China by “encircling the cities from the countrysides.”

Ambushcades have been the norm of attack by the Maoist rebels ever since.

Inday Sara — as the VP is fondly called — said Ramillano was just one of the victims of the “heinous crime” committed by communist rebels.

She also related the story of the mother of another soldier, Army 1Lt Jaren Relota, who was killed while fighting the NPA in Davao City in 2018.

“Paulit-ulit na sumasagi sa aking isipan ang tanong ng ina ni Jaren na nagsasabing, ‘Inday Sara, ilang anak pa ba namin ang mamamatay dahil sa mga teroristang NPA,” Duterte recalled.

She stressed that the communists were out to destroy the government and lead the country to war, poverty, and injustice.

She once again described the recent agreement between the Marcos Jr. administration and communist groups as an “agreement with the devil.”

On Friday, December 22, the military reported that soldiers from the Army 2nd Infantry Division on Tuesday thwarted a plan by communist rebels to launch attacks during the Christmas season following the recovery of anti-personnel mines during a brief clash in Tagkawayan, Quezon last Tuesday (December 18).

Reports said troops from the 85th Infantry Battalion chanced upon a 10-man NPA group in Barangay Manato Central, Tagkawayan.

After a 10-minute firefight, the rebels withdrew, leaving behind four anti-personnel mines, a bandolier with four magazines and ammunition, four backpacks, and subversive documents.

Capulong said the rebels were members of the Platun Reymark of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee under Sany Broncano Alias Tau.

(IAmigo/MNM)