6 NPA rebels killed in ‘misencounter’

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Six rebels were killed when two New People’s Army (NPA) units had a "misencounter" in a remote barangay in Agusan del Sur Thursday night, the military said in a belated report yesterday.

Lt. Col. Johnny Macanas, commander of the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion, said guerrillas from "Front Committee 34" in one of the Davao provinces clashed by mistake with their comrades from "Front Committee 88" in Agusan del Sur in Barangay Mahagsay, San Luis town.

"Under cover of darkness, my men were able to cause the two-hour misencounter of the two rebel fronts, leading to the deaths of six of their own comrades," he said in a telephone interview.

Macanas said the guerrillas under Eleuterio Kasal, alias Commander Nolan, and those under Rene Mandahinog, alias Commander Alab, were supposed to meet to consolidate their forces for a tactical offensive against troops of the 29th IB in celebration of the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on March 29.

"But God, in his mercy and grace, thwarted their evil plans and spared us from any harm," he said.

Macanas did not say what his men were doing at the scene of the misencounter.

Meanwhile, Macanas said his men captured a 14-year-old NPA rebel during an encounter in Barangay Sinacunan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur on Saturday.

Macanas said Tema Namatindong, a Higaonon, is now undergoing tactical interrogation at the headquarters of the 29th IB.

Namatindong was captured after he fled in fear after Macanas’ men fought with14 NPA guerrillas, the battalion commander added.

On the other hand, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division reported yesterday that two NPA rebels were killed and five soldiers were wounded when at least 100 guerrillas ambushed a platoon of soldiers on a truck in Sitio Sedo, Barangay Sto. Niño, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte on Friday.

The military said Lt. Errol Ramones and 2Lt. Anthony Solamo were leading 20 of their men towards Barangay Pulong-Pulong when ambushed.

A two-hour gunbattle ensued, during which the rebels retreated, the military added. — Bong Fabe