Fresh encounters erupt in ComVal, 2 NPA rebels killed
DAVAO CITY – Clashes between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels erupted anew in the province of Compostela Valley last February 9 and 10, resulting in the death of two rebels amid the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) intensified security operations in the Davao region.
Captain Rhyan Batchar, chief information officer of the 10th Infantry (Agila) division on Wednesday said that elements of the 46th Infantry battalion again figured in another encounter in Sitio Post 4, Barangay Tagdangua, Pantukan town last Tuesday.
A high-powered firearm was recovered by the government forces while two wounded NPA rebels were intercepted at a checkpoint set up after another encounter in Barangay Tibagon in the same town.
A soldier, identified as Corporal Boskie Carcellar sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter and was immediately airlifted to a military hospital in Camp Panacan here.
Batchar said that the armed confrontation on Tuesday erupted when the 45th IB soldiers were running after the group of alias Raden, a notorious NPA rebel in the area.
The captured NPA rebels were identified as Ronel Paas alias Dondon, 35, a resident of Lower Lahi, Purok 6, Magnaga, Pantukan and a teenaged a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Panibasan, Maco town.
Paas, who sustained a gunshot wound in his chest, was pronounced dead- on-arrival at the hospital while the minor, with a gunshot wound in the leg, was also brought to hospital.
Child soldiers Batchar added that the 10th ID is coordinating with Department of Social Welfare and Development ( DSWD) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the area to look into the case the minor, considered as a child soldier employed by the NPAs.
“Some of the NPAs, including the wounded sought refuge in the min- ing tunnels in the area. Soldiers tried to pursue them but had a hard time finding their way inside the tunnels because it has several branches,” Batchar said.
In a separate incident on the same date, patrolling soldiers of Bravo Company, 46th IB discovered and disarmed an improvised explosive device with a 200-meter wire at Sitio Logpaton, Barangay Kingking also in Pantukan.
More skirmishes On Wednesday, February 10, elements of 46th and 67th Infantry Battalions again clashed against NPA rebels in Compostela Valley province in two separate occasions that left one rebel dead and the recovery of two more IEDs.
Elements of 46th IB were on security patrol when they engaged a group of heavily armed NPA rebels at around 9:55 a.m. in Sitio Panganason, Napnapan, Pantukan.
No soldier was wounded in the encounter while the NPAs were believed to have incurred casualties after they immediately fled the area, Batchar said.
The second encounter on Wednesday happened in Sitio Putingbato, Ngan, Compostela at around 10:00 a.m.
Batchar reported that patrolling soldiers of 67th IB chanced upon a group of 30 NPAs belonging to Guerilla Front 25 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, triggering a 20- minute firefight.
Gallant soldiers 10th ID commander Major General Rafael Valencia lauded the gallantry of the soldiers and reiterated his appeal to the remaining NPAs to finally abandon the armed struggle.
"Our use of legitimate force against the NPAs shall continue until the NPAs abandon violence paving the way for peace and development in Compostela Valley Province," Valencia said.
Meanwhile, the Youth for Peace Movement in the Davao region issued a statement of sympathy on Wednesday afternoon in relation to the wounding of the minor NPA rebel.