Reds attack CAFGU outpost in Misamis Oriental; 1 dead

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — At least 40 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels swooped down on a detachment of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) of the Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental the other day, killing a soldier and wounding a militiaman.

Lt. Col. Johnny Macanas identified the slain soldier as Cpl. Winifredo Simbajon and the wounded militiaman as a certain Zaballero.

The communist rebels also carted away six M-14 Armalite and seven Garand rifles and assorted ammunition of the CAFGU members.

Soldiers of the 9th IB, under Col. Rainer Cruz, were still pursuing the guerrillas yesterday.

Macanas said the rebels, led by Tito Abucayan, alias Ka Pardo, of the NPA’s Front 4B under the Northern Mindanao Regional Committee, fled to Barangay Kibanban after 30 minutes of firefight, reportedly seizing several villagers as human shields.

The militiamen were caught off-guard by the attack, but managed to fight back.

After the rebels withdrew, they attacked another 9th IB detachment in Barangay Kibanban.

Responding to calls for reinforcement, the 2nd Division Reconnaissance Company, based in nearby Claveria town, sent a platoon of soldiers but arrived too late as the rebels had already withdrawn.

The Army’s 4th Infantry Division, based in Barangay Patag in Cagayan de Oro City, also sent two MG 520 attack helicopters to the area but failed to engage the rebels.

After the attack, Jorge Madlos, NPA spokesman for Mindanao, said they were pleased with the feat of Abucayan’s group.

"This calls for a victory," said Madlos, adding that the attack was meant to make their presence felt, especially to their former comrades.

He twitted Macanas’ claim that the rebels used villagers as human shields, saying the civilian-looking hostages were actually NPA guerrillas.