CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - - The 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army (5ID, PA) commander has reported that they have recorded 'zero' New Peoples Army (NPA) combatants in the three provinces of the Cagayan Valley region.

During the 126th Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting held on April 12, 2023, Major General Audrey Pasia said the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino have no recorded NPA presence in their latest monitoring.

Pasia said the NPAs are already in the Northern Cagayan area as the army camp continues its internal security operations.

He further said that the deployed teams have not encountered NPA troupes during the joint search, rescue, and retrieval operations on the missing Cessna plane from January to March.

“Wala pong nanggulo sa ating mga uniformed personnel sa area ng Divilacan at Maconancon,” Pasia said.

Meanwhile, Pasia lauded the positive stand of RDC Chair and Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III as Isabela particularly the Camp Melchior Dela Cruz was one of the four identified Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites. 

Pasia also lauded Gov. Rodito Albano III for articulating his positive stand relative to EDCA.

Pasia said that Camp Melchor dela Cruz has hosted 130 US troop personnel during the first phase of Salaknib exercise between the Philippine Army and US Army Pacific held on March 13 to April 4, 2023. 

He said the second phase of the Balikatan 2023 which is a part of EDCA-related activities dubbed as 'Balikatan' proper is currently ongoing up to April 28. (OTB/MGE/PIA Isabela)