Agusan folk flee as police, NPA clash

From the Manila Standard Today (Feb 15): Agusan folk flee as police, NPA clash

Some 125 families or 812 individuals from the Manobo, Lapaknon tribe and Christian communities fled their homes in Barangay Binicayan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur following clashes between policemen and New People’s Army guerillas in the area.

The firefight between the policemen and NPAs left two persons dead – a police officer and a suspected NPA guerilla commander.

Killed in action were PO2 Danny Suhayon, who was assigned with Agusan del Sur Provincial Public Safety Company and one alias Jaguar, the alleged Commander of Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda of Guerilla Front 34 of the NPA.

Seriously wounded during the firefight was PO1 Rodnilo A. Gier Jr. of the 131st Regional Public Safety Company.

Reports said the policemen were doing combat patrol when they encountered an estimated 35 communist guerillas in Sitio Union, in Barangay Binucayan on Tuesday.

Jaguar’s body was recovered during  pursuit and clearing operation. Also recovered were three magazines of AK47 with ammunition, two improvised explosive devices, several subversive documents and personal belongings.

The body of PO2 Suhayon, meanwhile, was brought to PPSC Patrol Base in La Fortuna, Veruela, Agusan del Sur while PO1 Gier was brought to one of the hospitals for treatment in Agusan del Sur.

Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Darius Otaza said that the firefight the lumad residents to leave their homes for fear that they would be caught in a crossfire.

This is the second time in two months that the lumads had to flee their homes because of an encounter between government forces and NPA rebels. On Jan. 23, more than 222 families or about 1,500 individual lumads fled their homes in 14 Banwa-on lumad communities in San Luis, Agusan del Sur starting January 23 because of a similar firefight.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/02/15/agusan-folk-flee-as-police-npa-clash/