5 killed as clashes continue between gov’t, NPA forces
DAVAO CITY – Three Communist insurgents, a militiaman and an Army sergeant were killed, while three other soldiers were wounded in separate clashes by government forces with New People’s Army (NPA) in Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, and North Cotabato provinces on March 23.
In a report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northeastern and Northern Mindanao command, a male and a female NPA combatants were slain in a firefight with elements of the 26th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Mandanao, Barangay Binucayan, Agusan del Sur.
The 30-minute encounter occurred at 1:30 p.m. and also resulted in the wounding of an undetermined number of Communist rebels, according to 26th IB Commander Lt. Col. Rommel Pagayon.
Pagayon also confirmed that a member of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), whose identity was withheld until after notification of his next of kin, was fatally shot in the encounter.
Then in Barangay Cayaga, San Fernando, Bukidnon, three skirmishes, also Thursday, resulted in the killing of Sgt. Leo Lugo. The encounter was with rebels belonging to the NPA’s Guerilla Front 55 in Brgy Cayaga, San Fernando, Bukidnon.
The firefight also resulted in the wounding of Corporals Zhelmer Roquero and Hansen Dave Pajarillo.
The casualties were immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital.
Another 10-minute encounter occurred at 7:20 p.m. after joint army-police team composed of troops from 39th Infantry Battalion and the Cotabato Police Public Safety Company (PPSC) responded to report that there was an NPA presence in Barangay Camutan, Antipas, North Cotabato.
About 200 families fled their homes in Antipas due to the presence of the Communist insurgents.
According to 39th Infantry Battalion Spokesperson First Lieut. Silver Belvis, about 40 rebels, under the command of a certain Alvin Gulmatico, who is also known as Commander Jofel, of the NPA Guerilla Front 53, arrived Thursday in sitios Imbangan and Matias in Barangay Camutan, and sitio Patot in Barangay Datu Agod in a bid to recruit local residents to join the insurgency.
Meanwhile, the elements of the 30th Infantry Battalion, who were providing security for a humanitarian group, also clashed with NPA guerillas in Barangay Jubgan, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte, last Tuesday.
The incident happened at 2 p.m., after the humanitarian team convoy composed of Army, Navy, reservists, health officers from Surigao del Norte Provincial Health Office, Malimono Rural Health Unit and Kiwanis International had just finished the conduct of medical, dental and relief operations in Malimono and San Francisco, when government security troops clashed with the NPAs.
San Francisco town was the most devastated when a powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the area on Feb. 10, 2017.
An NPA cadre identified as Giovane Pancepano, 38 was killed when an undetermined number of heavily armed NPAs conducted a lightning attack on an Army patrol base in the far-flung area of Comota in La Paz town, Agusan del Sur, also last Tuesday. (With a report from Joseph Jubelag)