Belgian taken hostage, or an NPA amazon?

BUTUAN CITY – Government forces are now investigating the presence of a female Belgian national who was allegedly carrying firearms and treating wounded NPA rebels in a surprise attack of a CAFGU-military patrol based in Barangay Hinapu­yan, Carmen, Surigao del Sur early yesterday morning.

Col. Jose Vizcarra, Brigade Commander of the 401st IB, Philippine Army based in Surigao del Sur said he already asked the PNP-CIDG to conduct investigation on whether the female Belgian national was taken hostage or an NPA amazon/accomplice as she was seen to be with the NPA rebels at the time of the firefight by local residents in the area.

Vizcarra said initial intelligence reports reaching his office showed the Belgian was allegedly working with a non-government organization, El Hombre has now the NPA name as “Ka Luna.”

“We wanted an in depth investigation on this and informed the Belgian Embassy on the activities of their citizen in our soil because, so far there was a reported Belgian national being kidnapped in Caraga Region,” Vizcarra told The STAR in a mobile phone interview.

More than five hours of firefight between government forces and an estimated 60 fully-armed New People’s Army guerrillas from three front committees yesterday morning have resulted to the recovery of three dead while recovered from the scene were undetermined number of shells from M16 and M14 rifles, two hand grenades, one rifle grenade, nine M-203 ammunitions, 11 improvised landmines and two damaged M16 rifles.

“This is not including five dead NPA militants carried by their comrades as they escaped and wounded when pursuing government troops engaged them in hot pursuit operations,” Vizcarra, Brigade Commander of the 401st IB PA said.

At around 3:45 a.m. Sunday some 60 fully armed young NPAs attacked a CAFGU detachment of the 23rd IB in Barangay Hinapuyan, Carmen, Surigao del Sur, one of the biggest CAFGU-Army patrol bases in the province.       – Ben Serrano