A PREGNANT woman, believed to be a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), was rescued on Saturday afternoon after a clash between the government troops and NPA rebels in Barangay Kalabugao, Impasugong town in Bukidnon.
The army identified the 22-year-old woman as Susan Cabusao Guayon, who is five months old pregnant. She was hurt following the encounter on Saturday between the troops of the Army's 8th Infantry Battalion and her NPA comrades.
Army's 8th Infantry Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana said about 40 members of the NPA from the Force NEO Compaq, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee abandon Guayon during the encounter at around 2 p.m.
"She (Guayon) was abandoned by her comrades during a 20-minute firefight in a forested area near Sitio Ulayanon, after she sustained a wound in the forehead. There were no casualties in the government troops’ side," Illana said.
As of Sunday, Guaynon is already in stable condition, Illana said. He added that their troops have immediately applied first aid and sought for her evacuation to the nearest hospital in Bukidnon for medical treatment and observation.
"We will inform the direct family of Sudan and we will see to it that she receives the medical treatment needed in coordination with the local government of Impasugong and the province of Bukidnon," Illana said.
The troops, meanwhile, recovered from the encounter site two AK47 rifles; one AR18 rifle; one caliber 30 M1 Carbine rifle; one M4 rifle; one air gun; and 30 backpacks of NPA filled with subversive documents and personal belongings.
Illana said the 403rd Infantry Brigade continues persistent focused military operations in its areas of responsibility in response to the reports of threat and extortion of the NPA members from local residents in the communities.