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Monday, March 03, 2008
3 persons probed for 'coddling' rebels
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- At least three residents of Baracatan, Toril are now being questioned by military authorities for possibly colluding with communist rebels who ambushed soldiers last Saturday, killing three and wounding seven.
In a telephone interview Sunday, Colonel Gaudencio Pangilinan of the Philippine Army's 1002nd Brigade said their canine dogs traced the scent of the rebels to at least three houses in Baracatan.
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Though not accusing the residents outright of being rebel supporters, Pangilinan said it is possible the rebels were just passing by or threatened the residents if they won't cooperate.
Military operation is still ongoing as of Sunday.
Three soldiers were killed while seven others were wounded when rebels clashed with troops of the Army's 66th Infantry Battalion in Catigan, Toril, Davao City Saturday morning. Catigan and Baracatan are neighboring barangays in the hinterlands of Davao City.
Pangilinan said the soldiers were on patrol at the vicinity of Sitio Habana around 6:55 a.m. Saturday when the rebels ambushed them.
A firefight ensued for more than 40 minutes and three soldiers were killed. One died on the spot, while the two died on the way to the Davao Medical Center.
Pangilinan said the rebels belonging to the Front Committee 51 were just trying to retaliate after about 300 rebel supporters surrendered last Friday and took their oath of allegiance to the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Colonel Alan Luga, commanding officer of Task Force Davao, branded the ambush as "a cowardly act of the rebels."
Luga added that the rebel group does not seem sincere in apologizing to the Ferrazinni family over the blunder it committed when it killed Vicente Ferrazzini last January 4.
"They have defied the call of the Ferrazinnis, instead they perpetrated more atrocities," Luga added.
The Task Force Davao chief reiterated the call for the rebel group to leave Davao City and the Dabawenyos in peace. (With CPM)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (March 3, 2008 issue)
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