5 soldiers wounded in NPA encounter

Some five government soldiers were wounded in an encounter with suspected communist rebels in Sitio Magpait, New Eden, Pangantucan, Bukidnon, Monday, July 27.

Troops belonging to the army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion were conducting focused military operation in the area when they encounter around 20 members of the New Peoples Army (NPA).

The clash lasted for about 10 minutes.

Captain Normal Tagros, 403rd Infantry Brigade civic military operations officer, said the wounded soldiers sustained wounds and are now recuperating in the hospital.

“Dili man critical ilang condition and natagaan na sila og medical treatment(They are not in critical condition and they have been given medical attention ),” Tag ross aid.

Tagros said the NPA fighters may have been in an advantage position because the troops are moving when they were attacked.

Tagros added that they have not determined whether there are casualties on the enemy’s side but blood stains were seen at the area where the Maoist guerrilla positioned.

He confirmed that the area is a conflict-affected community and communist insurgents are sighted prompting the military to immerse and conduct community support programs.

Tagros said the NPA are constantly holding recruitment and mass organizing activities in the community.

“Isa na nga area sa among priority for immersion as per request sa mga residents and sa local government unit (It is one of our priority immersion area as per request of the residents and the local government unit),”Tagros said.

He said issues of the residents that they are addressing are land ownership, agrarian reform issues and ancestral domain concerns.

“Kani nga mga concerns maoy cause ngano naa sila kasuko sa gobyerno (These are the issues why they are angry to our government) that is why we help facilitate sa pag(at) address(ing) ani nga mga (these) issues nila,”he added.