The Eastern Mindanao Command announced that Monday's series
of clash in the hinterlands of Sitio Tugal, Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel town,
Sarangani has resulted in the death of six New People's Army (NPA) fighters and
captured of nine high-powered firearms, higher than the earlier reported five
and six, respectively.
Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Eastern Mindanao Command
spokesperson, said that two encounters took place between the troops of 73rd
Infantry Battalion headed by 2nd Lt. Jerson F. Sanchez and NPA bandits in
Alabel town.
The first skirmish transpired at about 8 a.m. Monday after
soldiers, who were sent to check on the reported presence of armed bandits
coercing an Indigenous People (IP) community, were fired upon by undetermined
number of NPA bandits.
No casualties were reported during the initial encounter.
At about 3:30 p.m. of the same day, a 20-minute firefight
ensued after the troops pursued the escaping NPAs.
During this encounter, six NPAs were killed, seven backpacks
recovered and nine high powered firearms such as two AK 47 automatic rifles;
one M-653; and six M-16 automatic rifles captured.
Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, Eastern Mindanao Command head,
shared the sentiments of the IPs who are always at the losing end of
exploitation and coercion by NPA bandits.
“Our IP brothers are tired of these IP Rights violations,
anti IP coercion and exploitation by NPA bandits so they called the government
forces to help them put a stop on these. With their report, we were able to
track them and stop the NPA in their crimes," Baladad said.
"As human rights advocates, our security operations to
protect the IP from the banditry of the NPAs are just part of the holistic
approach to assist them in their quest for self-determination with the support
of other stakeholders," he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=736383
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