4 rebels, 1 soldier killed in Davao Oriental clash

FOUR suspected communist rebels and a soldier were killed in an encounter in Barangay Taocanga, Manay, Davao Oriental Wednesday morning.

Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) public information office head Alberto Caber, in a phone interview, identified the four fatalities from the New People's Army (NPA) as one Toto, Roger, Ken-rek and Cholas, who died later while undergoing treatment at the 67th Infantry Battalion headquarters.

Caber, however, refused to name the soldier killed in the encounter, as the family is yet to be informed about the incident. He only said the soldier killed is a Private First Class (PFC).

"As to the four rebels who died in clash, hinihintay pa namin yung families nila to claim the cadavers," Caber said.

He added that soldiers of the 67th IB gave Cholas immediate care but their effort to save him was futile.

Caber said the troops under the Army's 6th Infantry Battalion were conducting security operation at Sitio Matabang in Barangay Taocanga in Manay following reports on the presence of communist rebels in the area when the rebels attacked them around 8:30 a.m.

He added that there were around 20 NPA rebels who attacked a platoon. The exchange of gunfire took at least 25 minutes before the rebels withdrew.

The soldiers recovered one M16, one AK47, one M14 rifle, three landmines, a mobile phone and several documents from the NPA rebels.

"The civilians in the barangay reported the presence of the rebels who were accordingly extorting from them, thus, the security operation. According to the residents, they fear that the NPA will harm them," Caber said.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Krishnamurti A. Mortela, commander of the 67th Infantry Battalion, said the NPA is attempting to recover their former stronghold that was liberated from the group's clutches in 2012 but the populaces are already resisting them.

Mortela hailed the cooperation and coordination of the residents in the area, adding that it only showed their support to the government. He also told his men to undertake a joint operation with the authorities for the peace and security in the area.

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