Thursday, July 15, 2004 One soldier, five rebels die in Agsur clash
A SOLDIER and five members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed while a Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) was wounded in a clash between the rebel and government forces Wednesday in Agusan del Sur.
4th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin said rebel forces attacked their 29th Infantry Battallion San Pedro Patrol Base in San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
There was an estimated 50 rebel forces led by a certain NPA commander alias Maki of the NPA Front Committee 88. A platoon defended the base for an hour and thirty minutes.
The firefight resulted in the death of the patrol base commander Vener Granados and five NPA rebels while a certain Cafgu Siahay was wounded.
"Five enemy killed ang aming body count," Bagasin said. Recovered from the encounter area were two M16, one M14, one Carbine and one Garand.
Sources from the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political wing of the NPA, however said they have yet to confirm this report with their field officers.
"But perhaps they are just fabricating that story particularly as it just came out in the news that Bagasin is one of the candidates who might just get appointed to replace South Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko," one of the sources said, while giving his assurance that they would own up to the report that five of their NPA members were killed if it were true.
Military spokesman Col. Felicisimo Budiongan said the firefight, which lasted for more than an hour also resulted in the recovery of five rifles from the insurgents. LJA with a report from AFP
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