Thursday, October 12, 2006
Army seizes firearms in encounter with rebels
By Ruby P. Silubrico
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recovered high-powered firearms after an encounter with the rebels yesterday at Barangay Cruz, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
The AFP’s spokesperson, Captain Reynante Besa, said that the 1st Platoon under the 61st Battalion led by 2LT Jayson Magpantay under Task Group North encountered 40 rebels at around 4 a.m.
They seized two M16 rifles, a shotgun and a handheld radio believed to be owned by the rebels.
The rebels are said to be under the Kometing Reheyon Negros-Larangan Guerella 3 (KRN-LG3) led by Ka Hildo and Ka Vic, that were responsible for bombing the Hanjin Construction in Silay Airport last Sunday, resulting to P50 million in damages.
The firefight lasted for more than two hours and the soldiers said that some rebels were wounded based on the traces of blood found on the encounter and withdrawal areas.
Besa said there were no casualties on the part of the soldiers and that they are now hunting down the rebels with the use of helicopters.
The encounter area is mountainous and reportedly NPA infested.
Before the encounter, Magpantay’s team was conducting a foot patrol as part of their follow-up operation after the Silay incident.
(October 12, 2006 issue)
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