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Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Army seizes landmines, arrests top rebel leaders
CAGAYAN DE ORO -- The Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID) recently scored some victories in its campaign against the local communist New People's Army (NPA) in Misamis Oriental and in other parts of Northern Mindanao.
Eighth Infantry Battalion (8th IB) commanding officer Colonel Andrelino Colina said several bomb materials, including those used for landmines and subversive documents were uncovered in Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental.
Colina said the communist rebels operating in the hinterlands and municipality of Lagonglong owned these materials. He said this is brought about by their continued offensives against the insurgents.
"They continually deny that they use bombs but they are lying," Colina said.
Colina said they seized similar materials in Gingoog City. Two barangays there were held by the NPA until they were driven out by the military.
Fourth ID spokesman Major Samuel Sagun said the armed strength of the communist rebels continue to wane amid their continued operations.
Meanwhile, a platoon from the 36th Infantry Battalion captured four ranking communist NPA leaders during a 30-minute firefight in Barangay Sta. Juana, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur over the weekend.
Colonel Luini Mirar, commanding Officer of 401st Infantry Brigade based in Barangay Dayoan, Tago, Surigao del Sur, identified the four communist leaders as Ondoy Sigura alias Diezel, Nino B. Gucong, Lucy Canda alias Madie/Owen, finance staff and wife of communist leader Bong/Wako and a certain Maricel Evangelista alias Cecil.
They are under the NPA's Front Committee 14, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
The troops also recovered from the captured rebel leaders one .45 pistol, one 9mm pistol, and six anti-tank and eight anti-personnel landmines, two boxes of blasting caps, detonating cords and subversive documents.
Sagun said the encounter killed several communist rebels and wounded others as evidenced by the bloodstains on their route of withdrawal.
Prior to last Sunday afternoon's firefight, another platoon from the 36th IB encountered NPA rebels and the encounter resulted in the confiscation of four anti-tank landmines each weighing eight kilos, one box of blasting caps and detonating cords. (Stephen Capillas with a report from Sun.Star Superbalita)
(October 17, 2006 issue)
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