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Monday, September 29, 2003
Gov't-NPA clashes: 4 soldiers slain, 3 wounded
GENERAL SANTOS -- Four soldiers were killed and another three wounded in separate clashes with communist guerillas in the eastern and southern areas of the country, reports said Sunday.
The troops were conducting humanitarian work near Ligao City in Albay Province when they ran into 20 communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels. The resulting gun battle resulted in the death of four soldiers, the military said Sunday.
"The communist terrorists were in the vicinity intimidating the people when the encounter occurred," said Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jose Kakilala said. "The troops suffered four killed during the encounter, while the (rebels) incurred undetermined number of casualties."
Three soldiers were wounded in a separate encounter with communist rebels in T'boli in South Cotabato Saturday.
Lt. Col. Fidel Pumihic, commanding officer of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said soldiers were sent to Sitio Datal Salvan in Barangay Datal Bag to verify the presence of heavily armed men in the area.
Some 40 NPA guerillas fired at the soldiers before they even reached the village early morning Saturday. Two soldiers were immediately wounded in the initial burst of gunfire.
The NPA is the armed wing of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines, considered a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.
Pumihic said the soldiers were prevented from firing back because of the presence of civilians near the clash scene.
Later in the afternoon, another clash occurred between the military and the NPA rebels, leaving another soldier wounded.
Pumihic identified the wounded soldiers only as Pfc. Ragual, Pfc. Kahali and a certain Corporal Nogalada.
He said an undetermined number of rebels were also wounded in both encounters.
Government soldiers were reportedly able to capture a still unidentified NPA rebel.
Also recovered from the encounter scene were two firearms allegedly left behind by retreating NPA guerillas.
The Juanito Banda Command of the NPA operating in the area, however, said no member of its unit was captured by the military.
But Ka Allan Bonifacio, spokesman of NPA Front 73 guerilla command, admitted that two of their companions were slightly injured during the clash.
The NPAs earlier claimed they killed three soldiers during the first clash Saturday but the military strongly denied the report.
The communist-led NPA rebel movement has been waging a guerilla war for over 34 years now.
It operates six guerrilla fronts in the Far South Mindanao Region of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Sun.Star General Santos/(With AFP)
(September 29, 2003 issue)
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