Military denies heavy casualties in Bukidnon attacks

Saturday, January 21, 2012

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) dismissed communist rebels’ claim that government troops suffered at least 22 casualties in the recent attacks in Bukidnon.

In a press statement issued Friday, Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson for the Merardo Arce Command of the New People’s Army (NPA), said the AFP suffered heavy toll –- six killed, 16 wounded -- during the attacks they staged in two separate incidents in Kitaotao town.

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Sanchez said the AFP tried to conceal their fatalities by airlifting them to Davao City.

However, the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMincom) dismissed the reports as baseless.

"That's a big lie. We only have four casualties not 22," said EastMincom spokesperson Colonel Leopoldo Galon.

Galon identified the soldiers hit by landmine shrapnel as Corporal Ongcoy; Private First Class Senes; Private First Class Pactol; and Private Palahang.

According to Sanchez, the rebels started the attack around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday when they ambushed a private vehicle where soldiers belonging to the 23rd Infantry Battalion were onboard, along the highway in Barangay Sinuda, Kitaotao.

Two died on the spot, while four others were injured, he said.

Three hours later, he added, an NPA commando belonging to Front 53 ambushed a convoy of the 8th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Palakapaw, also in Kitaotao town.

Sanchez said their men set off a command-detonated explosive that blasted the military vehicle, killing four soldiers and wounding 12 others.

The AFP sent two Huey helicopters and two other bomber planes to rescue the soldiers under fire, according to the statement.

Galon called on media to be "extra-careful" in using the press statements issued by the NPAs "as these are meant to deceive the public and bolster the morale of other rebels."

"That's how the NPAs run their propaganda nowadays," said the Army colonel. (Sun.Star Davao)