NPA claims to have killed 16 soldiers; military says only one dead

From the Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Oct 4): NPA claims to have killed 16 soldiers; military says only one dead

THE North Central Mindanao Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday claimed that it has killed 16 soldiers in the past three days of fighting but the military said it only lost one soldier.

In a statement, Allan Juanito, spokesperson of the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Command, said the soldiers were killed in six separate clashes since September 30.

In the first alleged incident on Minday, Juanito claimed the NPA killed an alleged military agent named  Junjun Versano  near an Army detachment in Barangay Calabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

But 4th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Christian Uy denied that a Versano was killed but he confirmed that the NPA “harassed” the detachment on Monday.

He also said the detachment was attacked only once and denied Juanito’s claim that rebels went back to the detachment a day later or Tuesday.

Uy said the NPA rebels merely fired shots at the detachment last Monday and withdrew.

He surmised that the action of the NPAs was to divert from a battle that went on in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.

Both the Army and the NPA confirmed that two firefights occurred in Lagonglong on Tuesday but they did not agree on casualty figures.

Uy said only one soldier was killed––Pfc. Ellan Ramones––and six were others were wounded. Hurt were Cpl. Julius Agusen, Pfc. Jose Noli Pabingwit, Pfc. Cris Lorenzo, Pfc. Dioscoro Briones, Pfc. Geofrey Purisima and Pfc. Junard Ramones.

Uy said Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, ordered troops to make the rebels accountable for the killing of Pfc. Ramones and the wounding six other soldiers.

But in the NPA statement, Juanito said 10 soldiers were killed and no rebel was wounded.

Juanito also claimed that they attacked another Army detachment in Barangay Hagpa, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon last Tuesday but this was also denied by Uy.

Juanito said another encounter at Lagonglong took place on Tuesday resulting in the killing of five soldiers.

CampEvangelista sent additional troops from the 403rd Brigade and 58th Infantry Battalion to the towns of Lagonglong and Balingasag, Misamis Oriental as augmentation force against the rebels.

Uy said the military intensified ots operations against the NPA and the Scout Ranger troops from the 58IB were taking the lead.

http://www.goldstardailynews.com.ph/mindanao/npa-claims-to-have-killed-16-soldiers-military-says-only-one-dead.html