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Thursday, August 24, 2006
3 die in army, communist rebel Gingoog clash
A SOLDIER from the 8th Infantry Battalion and two communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter in Gingoog City last Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred amid reports that rebels seized around 29 firearms from the 702nd unit of a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) battalion under the 403rd Brigade infantry unit based in Barangay Buko, Valencia City in Bukidnon province at 11 p.m. last Tuesday.
During Wednesday's forum at the regional Philippine Information Agency-Northern Mindanao, Fourth Infantry Division chief Jose Barbieto said they ordered an inquiry into the incident.
"I have yet to get complete information on this (as of this time) but I already ordered the battalion commanders in charge to submit a report on the incident," Barbieto told local media.
In a radio interview 8th IB commanding officer Andrelino Colina said they could not yet disclose the name of the slain soldier as of this time.
The encounter occurred in the hinterland area of Barangay Lunao particularly in the Agay-ayan and Bantawan area of Gingoog City where the troops are conducting their patrols.
Colina said the terrain there is difficult and the encounter happened at night, placing them at a disadvantage that cost them the life of a soldier.
Patrols
He said the communist rebels managed to take their dead comrades with them.
Colina said they were on alert following reports that the communist NPA rebels planned to attack one of their patrol bases.
"Their gathering was a prelude to their attack when the encounter occurred," Colina said.
He said were it not for their patrols the communist rebels may have attacked one of their patrol bases in their area of responsibility.
However, an NPA attack occurred in a Cafgu detachment in Valencia City, Bukidnon that resulted in the rebels taking 15 M14 armalite rifles, 10 Garrand rifles, two carbines, and two M16 armalite rifles.
Fourth ID spokesman Francisco Simbajon said the attack was launched by rebels under the communist NPA's Ernesto "Boboy" Roa Command.
The rebels claimed that a detachment commander was killed during their raid.
As this developed, Barbieto said they will intensify their offensives against the communist NPA rebels, vowing to go toe to toe with them if needed.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth if they want to," Barbieto said, even as he reiterated the Fourth ID's record of reducing the armed strength of the communist insurgents by 10 percent in Northern Mindanao.
Barbieto said the attacks were expected since the rebels are intensifying their assaults on Cafgu detachments, police precincts and security guards at major firms where there is public access or security and armed strength is minimal.
"We also cannot rely on our efforts alone so we need the information from our barangay intelligence networks, the residents in the communities and the local officials to provide us information on the whereabouts and movements of the rebels," he said. (Stephen Capillas with reports from Sun.Star SuperBalita)
(August 24, 2006 issue)
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