Soldier killed in encounter with armed men in Zamboanga Sibugay

From ABS-CBN (May 2): Soldier killed in encounter with armed men in Zamboanga Sibugay

A soldier of the Philippine Army was killed in an encounter with a group of armed men in Barangay Tenan, Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay Saturday afternoon.

Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Wilter Palma said personnel of Ipil Municipal Police Station went to Barangay Tenan to verify a report on the presence of a suspicious motorcycle and armed men.

However, the armed men immediately fired at the police upon their arrival in the area. Personnel from the Provincial Public Safety Company, who went to help the policemen, were also met with heavy gunfire.

The police patrol vehicle caught fire after it was hit by a M-203 grenade rifle and high powered ammunition.

The soldiers from 44th Infantry Batallion, whose company headquarters is just few meters away from the encounter site, responded to the area. A fierce firefight ensued. A soldier died after sustaining gun shot wounds on his body.

Palma said several others were wounded, including some civilians.

The wounded soldiers and civilians were rushed to a nearby hospital in Ipil.
Five houses also burned down in Barangay Tenan amidst the firefight.

It is unclear, though, as of this writing, who started burning the houses down.
A number of families in the area evacuated to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Palma said most of the families who evacuated went to their relatives living in nearby barangays in Ipil, while some opted to stay in barangay halls.

Policemen and soldiers in Zamboanga Sibugay have been on a pursuit operation for almost a month now, to locate the abductors of Naga Mayor Gemma Adana, who was forcibly taken by armed men from her house on April 6.

Palma believes that Adana and her abductors are still hiding in Zamboanga Sibugay as of this time, although there are unverified information that the abducted official has been brought to Sulu and handed over to members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/05/02/15/soldier-killed-encounter-armed-men-zamboanga-sibugay