SIX soldiers were injured Monday in a landmine attack by the New People’s Army rebels in Digos City which had been declared as insurgency-free last year.
Another soldier, identified as Cpl. Ricky Tuarez, was initially reported missing in action after he got separated from his fellow soldiers but was accounted for seven hours after the fighting.
Capt. Ernest Carolina, spokesman of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said troops from the 39th Infantry Battalion were dispatched to barangay Kapatagan after residents reported the presence of rebels in their community.
At around 2:30 p.m. Monday, the undetermined number of rebels detonated a landmine on the patrolling troops, followed by a volley of fire. The troops fought back, triggering a one-hour firefight.
Carolina named the injured soldiers as Sgt. Eliseo Peraño, Cpl. Marcelino Bagood Jr., Pfc. Olomodin Dicampong, Pfc. Lory Kim Lacal, Pfc. Genesis Quilaton and Pvt. Michael Guibao.
Carolina said they received information that two rebels were injured in the skirmishes.
The official said the NPA group from Front Committee 51 might be trying to re-establish foothold in Digos City.
When Digos was declared insurgency-free in September last year, the military turned over to the city government the lead role in internal security operations. Officials have said that an area cleared of insurgency does not necessarily mean zero-rebel presence.
“Their armed group was at controllable level. It was no longer very significant to the point that the lead role for anti-insurgency or internal security operations can be handled by local government,” said Carolina.
“Since the area is already cleared (of insurgency), we suppose that they are trying to establish their mass base. They have an effort to win it back and the residents reported their presence,” added Carolina.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/npa-stages-landmine-attack-davao
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