Manila Bulletin

Fierce battle in Agusan: NPA amazon killed, scores wounded

- By MIKE U CRISMUNDO

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – A suspected New People’s Army ( NPA) amazon was killed while a still undetermin­ed number of rebels was believed critically wounded when a fierce gunbattle erupted between government security forces and communist insurgents at Barangay Hinimbanga­n, in Kitcharao town, Agusan del Norte yesterday.

An initial report coming from the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion (29th IB) also stated that many guns and ammunition were seized by the government troops from the slain and wounded NPAs in the scene of the encounter.

“The runaway rebels currently being pursued by combat maneuverin­g troops of 29th IB were members of Guerrilla-Front Committee 16 of the CPP-NPA Northeaste­rn Mindanao Regional Committee,” said Capt. Patrick Martinez, acting regional spokesman of the Army’s Northeaste­rn and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID).

“Our ground commanders believe that many rebels were either killed or critically wounded as blood stains were seen along the NPA’s route of withdrawal while also seen by villagers dragging along their (NPA’s) wounded as they fled to nearby Mount IlongIlong,” claimed Capt. Martinez.

The slain unidentifi­ed NPA amazon is now being processed by the 29th IB, PNP and local government unit of Kitcharao for identifica­tion and proper dispositio­n.

The Hinimbanga­n gun battle took place after concerned village folk reported the presence of some 30 armed NPAs in their barangay.

An initial report from Lt. Col. Adonis Ariel G. Orio, commanding officer of the 29th Infantry Battallion (29th IB) said NPA group belongs to Guerilla-Front Committee 16 of CPP-NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee who were allegedly extorting money from the community in support of their anniversar­y celebratio­n on March 29.

After receiving the report, Col. Orio immediatel­y coordinate­d with the PNP to conduct joint operation to go after the said NPAs.

The 29th IB troops seized in the encounter site 3 M16 Armalite rifles, 2 AK47 rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, undetonate­d Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) with complete parapherna­lia, several backpacks of NPA casualties and subversive documents with high intelligen­ce value.

Major General Oscar T. Lactao, commanding general of the AFP’s Northeaste­rn and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (diamond) Division (4th ID) commended the 29th IB troops for protecting the civilian populace in Kitcharao area.

“I congratula­te our gallant troops together with the PNP in performing their duty in protecting the people in Kitcharao against these lawless elements and we also would like to thank the people from giving us timely and complete informatio­n about the presence of NPAs in their community,” he said.

“The people are now more discerning and are now able to distinguis­h the truth from the lies and they have already awakened and realized that the NPAs’ ideologies are only based on deceptions and are used only to further their own vested interests,” he said.

 ??  ?? Seized weapon from slain commmunist insurgents during a gunbattle with government security forces at Hinimbanga­n area, in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte on Monday. (Photo courtesy of 4th IDPCR)
Seized weapon from slain commmunist insurgents during a gunbattle with government security forces at Hinimbanga­n area, in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte on Monday. (Photo courtesy of 4th IDPCR)

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