5 troopers killed, 4 wounded in Oriental Mindoro clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 16): 5 troopers killed, 4 wounded in Oriental Mindoro clash

Five troopers were killed while four others were wounded during a 30-minute encounter involving a platoon of "B" Company of the 4th Infantry Battalion against 30 elements of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Hagan Village, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

4th Infantry Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Rodolfo A. Gesim identified the troopers as Cpl Roland T. Bernal, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA) Fulgencio B. Rolando, CAA Christer M. Gadon, CAA Garry S. Galindez and CAA Ernesto M. Malubay and were declared killed-in-action.

He also identified as wounded-in-action Pfc Mark Leo A. Nacion, Pfc Argie P. Capucao, CAA Jesse S. Francisco and CAA Meddy M. Gaban.

The casualties were airlifted by military choppers later in the afternoon to Roxas, Oriental Mindoro for funeral and medical attention.

Lieutenant Colonel Gesim said that the troops were on combat operations in response to the killing of a member of the village (barangay) council of the said village few days ago by the NPA rebels.

"The troops were determined to get the killers, they fought bravely with their heart by dislodging the NPAs from their entrenched position," said LTC Gesim. "But sadly, we lost some of them," he continued.

He also said that the NPA's laid landmines in the perimeter that inflicted initial damage to the operating troops.

203rd Infantry Brigade Commander Colonel Gavin Edjawan has directed pursuit operations as reinforcements were inserted in strategic areas by military helicopters which also provided close air support to the engaged troops.

The AFP Southern Luzon Command believes that these NPAs are part of the group that attacked Paluan Municipal Police Station in Occidental Mindoro in November 2014. Since then, 203Bde has been tracking the movements of the rebel group.

Navy patrol gun boats are now conducting maritime patrols and interdiction operations in selected waters surrounding Mindoro Island to preempt possible reinforcement coming from the mainland as well as those who intend to escape from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operations.

"Now that the troops located them, we will use necessary force and AFP assets to neutralize them," said SOLCOM Chief Lieutenant General Ricardo R. Visaya.

SOLCOM is optimistic the encounter will lead to the neutralization of the NPA group that has long been terrorizing in the island especially in the hinterlands.

"We are re-doubling our focused military operations to eliminate the NPAs in pursuit of peace and development in Mindoro," said Lt. Gen. Visaya.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=867097