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Wednesday, June 04, 2003
NPA rebels kill soldier, take hostages
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Government's warplanes and elite forces came too late to save one of their own trooper whose detachment was suddenly attacked Tuesday by members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Barangay Lantaca, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, military and police reports revealed.
Corporal Winifredo Simbajon died while a certain "Zaballero," a member of the Citizen's Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary or CAA was wounded when about 40 communist guerillas started firing at them.
Spot reports of the 4th Infantry Division released to the media by Col. Johnny Macanas said there was a firefight that lasted about 30 minutes Tuesday.
The military report claimed scores were killed and wounded on the side of the NPAs, who fled off with an undetermined number of villagers.
"They used them as human shields as they withdrew in the direction of Barangay Kibanban, Balingasag Misamis Oriental," it added.
Also taken by the rebels from the patrol base were six M14 armalite rifles, seven Garand and assorted ammunitions.
Major accomplishment
NPA Mindanao spokesman Jorge Madlos, alias "Ka Oris", told Sun.Star in a telephone interview Tuesday night they view the attack as a major accomplishment.
"Dako kini nga kadaugan sa NPA (This is a huge victory for the NPAs)...this will calls for a celebration," he said.
He explained that this attack was part of their plan to make their presence felt by the military and the people who are undermining them.
Madlos, however, explained that the military mistook the civilians who were with their group as hostages.
He said the unarmed civilians with them during the encounter were volunteers who were brought along to bring the items the guerillas took from the detachment and to see to the wounded.
"We need unarmed or unburdened people to carry the confiscated goods and our wounded kay bug-at mana sila (as they are heavy)," he said.
He added the report was part of the military's propaganda to make them look bad to the public.
Madlos said they are waging a war against the government, not the civilians.
Provide reinforcement
Another group of guerillas attacked the Lantaca Patrol Base of the 9th IB in Barangay Lantaca, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental also on Tuesday at 9 a.m., a military report said.
The Sentro de Gravidad (SDG) Iking group led by Kumander Ka Tito Abucayan, alias Pardo, reportedly perpetrated the attack.
About 10:15 a.m., a group of communist rebels harassed the 11th series patrol base of the 9th IB in the vicinity of Barangay Kibanban.
In the Balingasag clash, an elite platoon of the 2nd Division Reconnaissance Company took off from Claveria, a neighboring town, to provide reinforcement to embattled troops.
Two MG 520 aircrafts also provided support to the troops of the 11th series patrol base around noon Tuesday.
Two platoons from the 2nd and 5th Special Forces battalion disengaged from the 403rd Infantry Brigade to track down the perpetrators.
But as of Tuesday afternoon, there was no report received that the military was able to kill or apprehend the NPA group responsible for the death of Simbajon.
Balingasag town is about an hour jeepney ride from Cagayan de Oro while Barangay Lantaca is 12-kilometers from the town center.
40 guerillas
Balingasag police chief Insp. Carlos Oliveros told Sun.Star they believed that some 40 guerillas stormed Simbajon's detachment.
"Aktibo na sab ang NPA sa Balingasag," he said. (The NPAs are again active in Balingasag.)
According to Oliveros, Simbajon was still able to tell his troopers to withdraw before he breathed his last.
"Kadtong pag-ingon niya og 'withdraw' nasamdan na siya pero bisan nasamdan siya ni-away pa to' siya," he said (When he called for them to withdraw he was already wounded but still he still fought the rebels with what little strength he had left.)
Oliveros said Simbajon still was able to call for assistance inside the patrol base but the rebels were no longer around when reinforcement arrived.
He explained that the road leading to Simbajon's detachment is not easily accessible as single motorbikes are the only ones who usually go there.
Oliveros said there are only a few military posted in this patrol base as it is being assisted by Cafgus. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro |
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