Army foils NPA attack

DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Army recently thwarted a New People’s Army (NPA) attack in a far-flung village in North Cotabato that was intended to disrupt the on going construction of the Davao-Bukidnon National Highway, the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said.

Elements of the 84th Infantry Battalion succeeded in preventing the NPA rebels in sowing atrocities to civilians and construction workers in an encounter that took place on Tuesday morning, February 10, in Sitio Puting Bato, Barangay Sumalili in the town of Arakan, the Eastmincom said.

The army was able to repulse the NPA rebels after a 20-minute gunfight. No casualties were reported on the side of government troopers.

Recovered by authorities at the site of the encounter were one unit AK-47 rifle; one Colt .45 pistol; two hand grenades; one rifle grenade; ten jungle back packs; medical kits; and three short magazine assembly for M16 rifle with ammunitions.

Eastmincom commander Lt. General Aurelio Baladad lauded the gallantry of the members of 84th IB in preventing the NPAs from attacking the civilians and the on going development project in the area.

In a statement, Lt. General Baladad said: “We will not allow them to continue intimidating the communities and launch anti- development and socio- economic growth in the countryside.”

Meanwhile, one day before the Arakan encounter took place, the army detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that were planted by the NPA rebels in New Bataan, Compostela Valley and Paquibato District here.

Eastmincom said that combined elements of 66th IB and New Bataan police recovered an IED weighing more or less six kilos that was planted by the NPAs beside the national highway in Purok 1A, Barangay Bantacan in New Bataan on Monday afternoon, February 9.

Authorities also recovered a 75meter wire and a blasting cap in the area. (Alexander D. Lopez)