Gov't troops foil NPA attacks in Agusan del Sur

From ABS-CBN (Jun 28): Gov't troops foil NPA attacks in Agusan del Sur

Government forces foiled planned attacks by the New People's Army (NPA) in Veruela town in Agusan del Sur after a firefight Saturday.

The fighting broke out past 11 p.m. in Sitio Tagbulete in Barangay Del Monte, where members of the 26th Infantry Battalion are securing the construction of a farm-to-market road.

Prior to the incident, concerned residents reported the presence of NPA rebels in the area. The rebels were allegedly planning an attack against the military, after which they will burn heavy equipment used in the construction.

"The residents informed us that they saw NPA rebels in the area so we conducted a combat operation," 26th IB commander Lt. Col. Rolando Dumawa said in a phone interview.

Dumawa added that upon locating the whereabouts of the rebels, the military went in stop the planned attack of members of the Front Committee 3, numbering at least 20 men.

"Based on the account of the troops, they were still on their way to surround the rebels. However, they were seen by the rebels who fired the first shots," said Dumawa.

"But the troops were on the vantage position, they were on the better position. When they returned fire, many of the rebels fell down... We are not certain how many of them were killed or injured," he added.

The official said the troops were not able to recover any of the slain rebels or take custody of the wounded after the 20-minute firefight.

"I am confident many of them were killed because the troops saw the rebels falling to the ground. We were not able to recover any body because they (rebels) were so fast in their movement to recover their dead and wounded," he said.

During clearing operation, the troops recovered at the scene an M653 rifle, an AK-47 rifle, two M16 rifles, "subversive" documents and personal belongings of the insurgents, said Dumawa.

According to Col. Alexander Macario, commander of the Army's 401st Brigade, the rebels are trying to sabotage government projects in the area in order to pursue their recruitment activities.

"They are deliberately depriving our people of these projects to maintain the status quo in the area of lack of government interventions so that they can easily recruit and deceive new members," said Macario.

"We will protect the people in my area and will never let these NPAs pursue their selfish interests," he added.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/06/28/15/govt-troops-foil-npa-attacks-agusan-del-sur