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Monday, March 15, 2004
Soldier, 4 rebels slain in Bohol clash
A MILITARY sergeant and four rebels were confirmed dead in a gunfight that lasted for more than three hours in Batuan, Bohol starting around 5:30 a.m. yesterday.
The encounter came a day after the burial of high-ranking New People’s Army leader Silvino “Ka Bino” Clamucha, who was one of two men who died in an encounter last week in Catigbian, Bohol.
Major Raul Mendez, 302nd Infantry Brigade civilian military operations officer based in Bohol, said the gunfight happened in Sitio Kansingi, Barangay San Jose in Batuan.
It was also in that town where rebels raided a government armory and ran off with some 50 high-powered firearms almost five years ago.
“The encounter was the result of a tip given by civilians to the military about the presence of the rebels. It showed that we are starting to get support from civilians, which can be attributed to our relentless pulong-pulong (meetings) in the barangays,” Mendez said.
PO3 Gamaliel Merlas, investigator of the Batuan police, identified the soldier who died as Sgt. Menardo Modelo.
Mendez, in a telephone interview, said they initially identified one of the rebels killed in the combat as Ka Alvin.
The military has no further details about Ka Alvin’s background but he is believed to be the leader of the NPA’s Front 3 in Bohol.
They were later informed that three other rebels who remained unidentified were also found in the encounter area.
Rebel camp
The encounter involved joint forces of the 28th Special Forces Company based in Bilar, Bohol and the 7th Special Forces Company based in Balilihan, Bohol.
Mendez said it was also the result of the constant active security patrols done by soldiers.
He added the rebels set up a camp in the area for their meetings and were planning to launch tactical offensives for their anniversary on March 29.
They also planned to avenge the death of Clamucha.
Bohol Provincial Police Office Director Supt. Sancho Bernales has ordered all the police stations in the towns to be extra alert in order to learn if wounded rebels were brought to hospitals or clinics in their area.
On June 11, 1999, rebels raided the camp of the Regional Mobile Group in Barangay Rizal, Batuan, Bohol.
The rebels carted away around 50 high-powered firearms. At least 36 RMG personnel who were caught off-guard by the rebels were immediately relieved from their posts.
No one was hurt during that raid. MBG/With Pergen S. Soquillo of Superbalita
(March 15, 2004 issue)
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