REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
AFP Calls For Surrender After Intense NPA Clash In Pinukpuk
Photo credit: 5th ID, Philippine Army
A firefight between government troops and armed rebels in Kalinga on Sunday afternoon left one member of the New People’s Army under the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) dead, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) renewed its call for remaining fighters to surrender.
The clash erupted around 2:30 p.m. in Barangay Allaguia, Pinukpuk, after the Army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade encountered about ten NPA members linked to the Ilocos–Cordillera Regional Committee. The exchange was brief but intense. The rebels eventually fled, abandoning a high-powered firearm, a bandolier, and the body of their fallen comrade.
One soldier was injured during the firefight. He was given first aid and immediately airlifted by a Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter to a medical facility, where he is now in stable condition.
According to officials, the encounter stemmed from community complaints about ongoing extortion and intimidation by remnants of the NPA in the Cordillera region. The military says the group continues to disrupt peace efforts despite repeated government attempts at reconciliation.
This incident comes just two days after a similar clash in the same municipality, where about fifteen members of the same rebel group were involved. The AFP says the back-to-back firefights show that residents are increasingly rejecting the NPA’s activities.
Major General Gulliver Señires, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, expressed sympathy for the life lost but stressed that the AFP does not celebrate armed conflict.
“We extend our condolences to the family of the slain individual. Every life lost is a tragedy,” Señires said, urging those still in the mountains to surrender peacefully. “For years, we have opened the path toward peace, but the group continues to choose violence and extortion. Come home while there is still time. The government is ready to help you rebuild your lives.”
The 5th Infantry Division praised its troops for what it described as a swift and disciplined response that prevented further harm to civilians and kept the situation from escalating.
The AFP reaffirmed its commitment to protecting communities and sustaining peace efforts in Kalinga and the rest of Northern Luzon.
The clash erupted around 2:30 p.m. in Barangay Allaguia, Pinukpuk, after the Army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade encountered about ten NPA members linked to the Ilocos–Cordillera Regional Committee. The exchange was brief but intense. The rebels eventually fled, abandoning a high-powered firearm, a bandolier, and the body of their fallen comrade.
One soldier was injured during the firefight. He was given first aid and immediately airlifted by a Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter to a medical facility, where he is now in stable condition.
According to officials, the encounter stemmed from community complaints about ongoing extortion and intimidation by remnants of the NPA in the Cordillera region. The military says the group continues to disrupt peace efforts despite repeated government attempts at reconciliation.
This incident comes just two days after a similar clash in the same municipality, where about fifteen members of the same rebel group were involved. The AFP says the back-to-back firefights show that residents are increasingly rejecting the NPA’s activities.
Major General Gulliver Señires, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, expressed sympathy for the life lost but stressed that the AFP does not celebrate armed conflict.
“We extend our condolences to the family of the slain individual. Every life lost is a tragedy,” Señires said, urging those still in the mountains to surrender peacefully. “For years, we have opened the path toward peace, but the group continues to choose violence and extortion. Come home while there is still time. The government is ready to help you rebuild your lives.”
The 5th Infantry Division praised its troops for what it described as a swift and disciplined response that prevented further harm to civilians and kept the situation from escalating.
The AFP reaffirmed its commitment to protecting communities and sustaining peace efforts in Kalinga and the rest of Northern Luzon.
Nov 24, 2025
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