NPA shoots civilians in MisOr, 1 NPA dies in Bukidnon

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 25): NPA shoots civilians in MisOr, 1 NPA dies in Bukidnon

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City -- The New People’s Army (NPA) shot a civilian at Sitio Sidlakan, Barangay Bangbang, Medina, Misamis Oriental at 8:45 a.m., March 24.
Said incident followed after the rebels harassed the Command Post of Army's Bravo Company, 58th Infantry “Dimalulupig” Battalion in the area.

The wounded civilian is a certain Virgilio Legazpi, of legal age, poultry owner, and fondly called “Tatay Beloy” by the residents. Tatay Beloy went out of his hut with his step-daughter heading towards their poultry house to attend to some farm chores when the armed rebels fired upon them hitting the victim in his stomach.

The troops responded to aid the two civilians in an aim to extricate them from the rebels volume of fire but the latter continuously fired upon to these unarmed and innocent civilians. After the continuous effort to repel the enemy fires, the encounter ended.

Tatay Beloy was given first aid by his daughter using medical items from the Combat Life Saver kit of the troops. He was then evacuated to Bagong Lipunan Hospital in Gingoog City for immediate medical treatment with the help of the Local Government Unit of Medina.

Tatay Beloy was out of danger as of this writing.

Meanwhile, another encounter ensued between the rebels and the troops from 5th Scout Ranger Company, 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion, Special Operations Command operationally controlled by 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade at Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay City at 11:35 before noon last Sunday.

The exchange of fire lasted for 15 minutes. After which, the troops searched the encounter site and found one dead body of a rebel (name still unknown) and one M14 rifle. The rebels fled unconcerned of their dead comrade who was left in the place of incident.

The troops turned-over the body to the local officials of the Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay City for proper disposition.

Colonel Francisco Pabayo INF (GSC) PA, Commander of 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade said, “We are saddened by the actions of these rebels of targeting unarmed civilians, they are becoming more desperate that they will consider almost killing civilians as retaliation to their failed attack against the military post. I challenge these rebels that, if they are really concerned to the people as they always claimed, spare them because these civilians cannot defend themselves on their own.”

Lieutenant Colonel Eugenio Julio C Osias IV, 4ID Spokesperson said “These rebels continue to loss the support of the people who already realized that these NPAs are mere criminals who take pride of launching atrocities unmindful of hurting civilians. I also felt sorry for the family of the rebel who died in the said encounter. This incident should not have happened if only these rebels heed the peaceful offer of the government for a meaningful reconciliation.”

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1461364130537