NPAs kill civilian volunteer burn, container vans

BUTUAN CITY — A member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA) was killed last week when an undetermined number of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed a group of barangay officials in Barangay Cabantaw, Rosario, Agusan del Sur, a sketchy report reaching this city yesterday said.

The report reached the regional command and tactical operation center of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13) based in Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez. The report said the CAA members, whose number is not yet known, fought back for almost three hours.

Killed in the fire fight was Elmer Adonis. It is believed that several of the ambushers were also killed or wounded, a report from the Rosario Municipal Police Station said.

As of press time, elements of Rosario MPS, combat troops of the Agusan del Sur provincial mobile force, and elements of 401st Infantry Brigade are still pursuing the ambushers in the mountains of the Diwata range in Rosario.

Container vans burned Meanwhile, in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, the police reported that NPA rebels burned three container vans loaded with fresh banana fruits along the national highway at Sitio Mati, Barangay Javier, Barobo.

A report reaching the regional command also said the suspects were armed with AK 47 rifles and were wearing black t-shirts with “PNP” printed on them when they flagged down three container vans at 10:15 a.m., Friday. The three container vans are owned by the DOLE Philippines.

The three container vans were travelling in a convoy from Barangay Guinhalinan, Barobo and heading to Panabo City in Davao del Norte.

“At gun point, the unidentified armed men commanded the drivers to detach the container vans while the other armed men served as perimeter security,” said PRO-13 regional spokesman Supt. Martin M. Gamba, quoting the initial report of Surigao del Sur PPO. The armed men then forcibly opened the container vans and poured gasoline, then set it on fire, he said.

The PRO-13 regional spokesman said the men are believed to be members of guerilla-Front Committee 14 of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

The three drivers, identified as: Adolfo Canoy Adlawan, 38; Jeffrey Bienes Obedoza, 27; and Ricardo Labrador Calumpang, 49, were not harmed.

Initial estimated cost of damage was set at some million.

Rebel returnee In another development, a member of the NPA voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion at Camp Jaime M. Ferrer, in Barangay Maharlika, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.

Capt. Joe Patrick A. Martinez, deputy chief 4th Division Public Affairs Office (4th ID-PAO), identified the rebel fighter as Junrey Uyamag, Dadumo, alias “Ka Bambam” of Squad 1, Platoon 3-guerilla-Front Committee 14 of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

The NPA squad operates at the hinterland areas of the municipalities of Bunawan, Rosario, Trento and Santa Josefa all of Agusan del Sur and part of Surigao del Sur, Capt. Martinez said.

He surrendered his M16 Armalite rifle with short steel magazine loaded with 19 rounds of live ammunitions. (Mike U. Crismundo)