Classes suspended in Naujan due to military, NPA clash

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Classes in all public and private schools in two districts of Naujan town have been suspended beginning on Thursday (July 30), following an armed encounter that left two alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels dead and another captured, local and military authorities said. In an official statement issued Wednesday (July 29), the Naujan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said classes in the districts of Naujan II and Naujan III were suspended. “The suspension of classes is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and teachers following the armed encounter,” said the MDRRMO. The military’s 72nd Infantry Battalion and the NPA clashed in Barangay San Antonio at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday (July 29). Lt. Col. Virgilio M. Halad, commander of the 72nd IB, said the clash lasted for about 30 minutes. “The rebels withdrew and left behind two of their comrades, one dead and one wounded,” Halad said. He identified the fatalities as alias “Ka Romy” and alias “Ka Dindo.” The captured rebel was identified as alias “Ka Benjo.” Halad said the troops recovered two M16 rifles, two AK-47 rifles, and one M14 rifle from the scene. “We are still conducting pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels,” Halad said. He said the clashes occurred after the troops encountered an estimated 15 NPA rebels while conducting combat operations in the area. “The NPA rebels fired at the troops, prompting them to retaliate,” Halad said. He said the troops were able to prevent the rebels from reaching the town proper. “The rebels could have attacked the town proper if they were not intercepted by our troops,” Halad said. He said the military operation was part of the government’s intensified campaign against the NPA rebels in Mindoro Island. Mindoro Island is one of the strongholds of the NPA in the Philippines. The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has been waging a protracted guerrilla war against the government since 1969. The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. In 2019, the Philippines ranked 37th out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index. The country’s peace and order situation has been affected by the ongoing insurgency, as well as by the proliferation of illegal drugs and crime. The government has been implementing various measures to address these issues, including the intensification of military operations against the NPA and the implementation of community-based programs to promote peace and development. The suspension of classes in Naujan is a stark reminder of the continuing impact of the insurgency on the lives of ordinary Filipinos, particularly the youth who are deprived of their right to education during such incidents.