Army overruns rebels’ camp in N. Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY - A chance encounter with a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels on Wednesday in a remote village in Makilala town in North Cotabato led to the discovery of a rebel camp.

Lieutenant Nasrullah Sema, chief of the civil-military operations of the Army's 57th Infantry Battalion, said their men were conducting patrol operations when they encountered a group NPA rebels along the boundary of Barangays Rodero and Santo Nino, both in Makilala, around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

In the encounter with the rebels, Army troopers also chanced a rebel enclave that could accommodate at least 30 rebels. The encampment was proof that the rebels had stayed in the area for two days.

"This enclave has confirmed the reports or information we gathered from our sources in the area that, indeed, the rebels had been massing in troops in Barangay Rodero," Sema said.

A certain Galna, spokesperson for the NPA Front 72, said their men also conducted military action against the troops of the 57th IB and the Scout Ranger Battalion that led to intense exchange of fires.

One of the soldiers identified as Private First Class Lisan Aspacio was wounded during the encounter.

Residents in the area said four farm workers, identified as Rodel Ando, Boy Canas, Dodot Canas, and a certain Ely, were trapped at Sitio Balaila in Barangay Santo Nino at the height of the firefight. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)