AN ARMY soldier and a militiaman were killed on Monday in an encounter with suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) believed to have perpetrated the burning of an Army detachment and abducted five policemen in Paquibato, Davao City Saturday morning.
Troops belonging to the Army's 84th Infantry Battalion engaged in two encounters with the rebels during a pursuit operation at Sitio Banban, Barangay Lumiadim, Paquibato District last April 18.
Police identified the fatalities as Private First Class Jaylord Vicente and Cafgu Active Auxiliary Edward Sapuez.
Two other soldiers were wounded while the NPA left behind a dead member with his M-16 Armalite rifle.
Those wounded on the government side were immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital. Their names are withheld while their families are still being informed.
The first encounter happened around 8 a.m. followed by another encounter at 12:25 p.m.
Captain Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry Division spokesperson, confirmed that, the NPA men encountered by the troops were responsible for the attack on Quiman-anao CAA detachment at Sitio Quiman-anao, Barangay Salapawan in Paquibato District, Davao City last Saturday morning, April 16.
The attack on Saturday morning injured CAA Mario Cariaman and Baptist Pastor Randy Ramirez in Barangay Salapawan.
Cariaman is already on stable condition at a hospital in Tagum City while Ramirez is still on critical condition at Southern Philippines Medical Center.
The NPA seized nine garand rifles, eight M14 rifles, 78 clips of garand ammunition, 30 fully loaded M14 magazines and other military equipment.
In a statement sent by NPA-Regional Operations Command spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez, he revealed that a unit of 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion Red fighters abducted five policemen aboard a mobile patrol vehicle and took them as prisoners-of-war (POW).
The PNP officers in the NPA custody included Paquibato Police Chief Inspector Leonardo Tarungoy, Police Officer 3 (PO3) Rosenie L. Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolph Y. Pacete, PO2 Neil C. Arellano, and PO3 Abdul Azis A. Ali.
The rebels also seized two 9mm pistols and one .45 caliber pistol from the policemen.
The POWs are being held in custody pending investigation of possible war crimes and other crimes against the people and the revolutionary movement.