Soldiers clash with communist rebels in Bukidnon

SOLDIERS from the 8th Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division encountered about 10 rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) in San Fernando, Bukidnon, Monday morning.

The troops were conducting combat clearing operation when residents tipped off information about the presence of the NPA rebels at Sitio Kasilaan in Barangay Halapitan.

The residents said the NPA rebels, allegedly led by Reynante Tumbalang alias Jigger of Sangay ng Platon Pampropaganda 3, Front Committee 6, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, were conducting force taxation and collecting foodstuff from farmers.

A firefight between the soldiers and the NPAs later ensued, which lasted for about 40 minutes.

The soldiers later recovered one US Springfield Single Shot Garand rifle (defaced serial number) with four rounds of live ammunitions and assorted subversive documents.

“We are very thankful to the local residents for their cooperation of giving timely information to our troops. This is a concrete proof of the efforts of the people in the community to thwart the long existing abuses of the rebels towards them. They are now awakened and wanted to end their sufferings in the hands of these rebels,” said Colonel James V. Jacob, Commander of 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade.

Lieutenant Colonel Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, said the troopers will continue to exert proactive actions to foil any forms of armed threat from hampering normal activities of the community.

Cuerpo stressed that maintenance of peace is their prime objective in carrying out their tasks to pave way for development in their area of operation.

“Let us work together to put this extortionists in jail or better, convince them to stop these criminal activities,” added Lieutenant Colonel Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, 4ID spokesperson. (PR)