Military overruns NPA camp in Davao Oriental

MANILA, Philippines - Army Scout Rangers overran a heavily fortified New People’s Army (NPA) camp manned by at least 200 fighters following more than three hours of heavy fighting in Davao Oriental Sunday afternoon, according to military reports.

Three soldiers and an undetermined number of rebels were reported wounded in the fighting that initially broke out at about 1:30 p.m. in the densely forested area of Sitio Carampel, Barangay Iliwagwag, Cateel town.

As of yesterday, combined government security forces are still undertaking pursuit operations, scouring nearby areas for the fleeing insurgents, Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said.

Quoting reports from Lt. Col. Gilbert Saret, commander of the Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion, Ortiz said elements of the 6th Scout Ranger Company, with a farmer as their guide, pinpointed and attacked the sprawling rebel camp where NPA fighters from the Pulang Bagani Command’s Guerrilla Fronts 25, 20 and 15 headed by Ade, Jekol and Gilbert were gathered.

“Crawling stealthily up to about 30 meters behind the enemy bunkers, our soldiers initiated the firefight,” he said.

Three soldiers – Sgt. Agapito Avarquez, Pfcs Josel Sedrome and Francisco Ligaten – were wounded in the clash that lasted until late Sunday afternoon.

Taking advantage of darkness, the rebels breached the Ranger’s dragnet, bringing along their wounded comrades but leaving behind an M-4 rifle, two M-16 and two M-14 rifles.

“We need to continuously conduct combat operations in order to flush the lawless elements including the NPA rebels out of the communities to bring in peace and security. Once this is achieved, we can maximize our efforts to support the development initiatives of the various stakeholders, especially the LGUs,” he said.

Elsewhere, a platoon of soldiers also encountered more than 20 rebels at Barangay Bato in Panulukan, Quezon four hours before the Davao del Sur fighting.

Army troops captured Ryan Sabalbero alias Inot, member of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Gerilya-North, during the brief firefight.

In Agusan del Norte, members of the 42nd Division Reconnaissance Company also killed an NPA rebel in a firefight with members of the Sangay sa Partidong Pangmasa, Guerrilla Front 21 of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Party Committee (NMRPC).

The soldiers were on patrol when they chanced upon the rebels at Barangay Tubigon, Sibagat, Agusan del Norte at around 10 a.m.