Rebels killed, wounded in Misamis encounter

BUTUAN CITY ,Philippines  – Soldiers clashed with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels Sunday morning in Sitio San Vicente, Barangay San Miguel, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, leaving one rebel dead and several others wounded, according to the military.

Major Eugene Osias, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army, said a platoon from the 58th Infantry Batallion (IB) under 2nd Lt. Karl Jan Devaras encountered around 30 NPA rebels of the North Central Mindanao regional committee.

Osias said they recovered two claymore landmines, a hand grenade, a laptop and subversive documents at the scene of the gunfight.

Devaras said a tip from civilians who were alleged victims of extortion activities by the suspected NPA rebels prompted government troopers to investigate, triggering the encounter.

“This only proves that civilian cooperation and support is a key to solve the insurgency problem of our country and the NPA are now losing support from the masses due to the atrocities they had been committing,” Osias told The STAR.

Negros sugarcane  farm torched

In Negros Occidental, about seven suspected NPA rebels burned a sugarcane farm, including a cargo truck owned by a barangay official in Barangay Carabalan Himamaylan City on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong, 11th IB commander, said seven suspected NPA rebels, three of them wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying high-powered firearms, burned the truck owned by Gerardo Titular.

He said the military launched a manhunt on the suspects, who fled toward Sitio Bolod and Daat in Barangay Carabalan Himamaylan City.

Army 1st Lt. Rey Balibagoso said the burning of the farm and cargo truck may have been triggered by the refusal of the owner to pay revolutionary taxes.

‘NPA attack in Kalinga  tied to mining’

In Kalinga province, meanwhile, the NPA yesterday claimed that Saturday’s attack, which killed at least two soldiers on their way to a medical-dental mission, is tied to mining and other projects in tribal lands.

Tipon Gil-ayab, spokesperson for the Kalinga-based Lejo Cawilan command of the NPA, claimed government troops under “Oplan Bayanihan” serve as security forces of mining firms.

“AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) formations are the legitimate targets of NPA attacks,” Gil-ayab said.

He said the NPA would launch more attacks to foil at least eight mining exploration activities and a hydroelectric project, said to be underway in the area.

He said these projects are the reasons why members of the Army's 5th ID were deployed in the area. – Ben Serrano, Danny Dangcalan, Artemio Dumlao