TROOPS belonging to the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division launched on Tuesday its manhunt operation against members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who attacked soldiers at Barangay Teresa in Maco town in Compostela Valley on April 14.
Colonel Elmer Quiros, officer-in-charge of the Army’s 1001st Brigade, said their troops along with the police in Maco are already conducting a security operation to track down the rebels whom the troops encountered on April 14 in Maco town around 4:50 p.m.
Quiros said the pursuit operation is also to prevent the NPA rebels from further causing damage. He said the rebels who attacked the soldiers are also the ones’ responsible in burning many equipments of the APEX Mining Corporation in Barangay Masara in Maco town last April 10.
"Such move of the NPA (burning of equipments) caused damage to the company. According to the reports, the New People’s Army even threatened the company to give in to their demands of larger amount of money as part of their extortion activity in the area," Quiros said.
He said four soldiers were wounded in the gunbattle. The firefight lasted for one-hour and 45 minutes, added. The military refused to name the soldiers, as their families are yet to be informed about the encounter.
"During the course of firefight, artillery fires were also delivered on enemy positions ensuring that no civilian will be harmed by the fire support. The NPAs scampered to different directions, while the troops cleared the area," Quiros said.
Quiros added that the troops discovered one temporary NPA encampment with emplaced running trenches and foxholes that can accommodate around 40 to 50 people in the area. He also said that traces of landmine emplacements were likewise discovered by the government troops.
Quiros said the NPA has consistently been violating the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law wherein it is clearly indicated that the civilians should not be subject of any attacks, and this includes establishments where civilians may be affected.