Militiaman slain in NPA attack

BUTUAN CITY – A member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was killed when an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) harassed the militia group’s detachment in a mountain barangay of Manoligao, in Carmen town, Agusan del Norte Friday night, a sketchy report reaching this city yesterday said.

Killed was Rodolfo Calumpang, a member of the 23rd CAFGU Infantry Battalion based at Purok 2, Barangay Manoligao of that same town.

Initial report said the harassment of the CAFGU detachment happened at 10 p.m. after the coronation night of Miss Manoligao beauty pageant.

Police and military reports said the members of the CAFGU detachment fought back their attackers for almost 10 minutes before the rebels withdrew to a forested area.

According to police and military reports, the militiamen believed that a number of the attackers were wounded in the encounter.

As of press time, the regional command of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13) ordered the commanders of the provincial mobile force and Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office to help the military in the pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels. (Mike U. Crismundo)