‘Boy rebel’ rescued

From the Mindanao Times (Feb 11): ‘Boy rebel’ rescued

1 alleged NPA killed, 14-year-old rescued in reported ComVal clash

AN ALLEGED member of New People’s Army was killed and a soldier wounded in an encounter in Pantukan, Compostela Valley on Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old child warrior  was rescued by government troops during pursuit operations.

Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP press conference held at Davao City Police Office, Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division, said troops of 46th Infantry Battalion were running after the group of alias Raden, believed to be  responsible for the series of violence in Pantukan, when they chanced upon around 20 NPAs .

The encounter resulted to a 20-minute firefight in Sitio Post 4, Barangay Tagdangua of the said municipality.

The NPAs scampered to different directions leaving behind one M16 rifle.

Cpl. Boskie Carcellar suffered a gunshot wound at the left side of his chest and was immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital.

During the pursuit operation, soldiers saw some of the wounded rebels climbing on board motorcycles and fleeing towards Poblacion Pantukan.

Checkpoints were immediately conducted to block all possible exits of the escaping rebels.

The soldiers manning the checkpoint in Barangay Tibagon intercepted two wounded NPAs and escorted them to the nearest hospital, together with the  Pantukan Municipal Police.

Another wounded rebel fled together with several men when approached by the 1001st Brigade ambulance at Poblacion Pantukan.

The two wounded NPAs intercepted in the checkpoint were identified as Ronel Paas , 35, resident of Lower Lahi, Purok 6, Magnaga, Pantukan and Alias  Dong, 14, resident of Barangay Panibasan, Maco.

Ronel was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital due to gunshot wound on his chest while the 14-year-old was treated at Camp Panacan Station Hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound on his lower left leg.

The 10th ID is now coordinating with DSWD and CHR to look into the case of the minor.

Some of the NPAs sought refuge inside the mining tunnels in the area. Soldiers tried to pursue them but have a hard time finding their way inside the narrow shafts.

Meanwhile, progressive group Karapatan trooped to the Commission on Human Rights yesterday afternoon to protest the “intolerable” act of the military by tagging a 14-year-old as a member of the New People’s Army.

“We condemn the 46th and 71st IB under the 10th ID for the indiscriminate firing and bombing of communities in ComVal that resulted to the death of a miner and the wounding of a civilian,” Hanimay Suazo, secretary general of the Karapatan.

According Suazo, the 14-year-old boy that the military described was a communist guerilla was actually a civilian who was wounded on his feet from the explosives used by the soldiers.

Suazo also insisted that there was no clash in Pantukan, Compostela Valley but it was a military harassment targetting residents of Sitio Kidaran, Barangay Mascareg in Mabini, Compostela Valley.

But the military insisted that there was an encounter in Pantukan, Compostela Valley as the members of the 46th Infantry Battalion were running after the group of alias Raden, believed to be responsible for the series of violence in Pantukan, when they chanced upon around 20 NPAs .

http://mindanaotimes.net/boy-rebel-rescued/