A SUSPECTED member of the New People’s Army (NPA), who was wounded in a gun battle, surrendered to government troops in Sitio Banli, Barangay Kinam, Malapatan, Sarangani.
Captain Jerry Lamosao, Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) chief, said yesterday that Enantay Mangay, alias Nankay, surrendered to the 73rd Infantry Battalion after a pursuit operation conducted by government forces in Sarangani on April 7.
The troops, while conducting Focused Military Operation on April 7, at around 11:20 a.m. encountered more or less 10 communist rebels believed to be members of South GF71, FSMR in the vicinity Sitio Banli. The firefight lasted for about 40 minutes before the rebels withdrew.
Alias Nankay sustained a gunshot wound on his left arm.
“Nahadlok ko nga mamatay mao nisurender ko kay kabalo ko nga ang mga sundalo nagasunod og nagarespeto sa human rights sa usa ka-NPA nga musurender sumula sa akong nabalitaan sa akong mga kauban nga nisurender na,” he said.
(I surrendered because I’m afraid to die and I know the soldiers observe and respect human rights of those NPA rebels who want to surrender just like my comrades who have already surrendered.)
The operation resulted in the recovery of seven backpacks with personal belongings, seven jungle hammocks, five pairs of boots, one improvised explosive device (IED), One SMP Icom radio, three bandoliers, medical paraphernalia; and one cherry mobile cell phone.
“He was extracted from the encounter site and brought to Dr. Jorge Royeca District Hospital, General Santos City,” Lamosao said.
There was no casualty on the side of the government forces.