CAMP GUILLERMO NAKAR, Lucena City – A soldier and four (4) CAFGU Active Auxilliary were killed while four (4) others were wounded during an encounter involving a platoon of “B” Company of the 4th Infantry Battalion against 30 NPAs in Brgy Hagan, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro at 10:30 a.m. of March 15, 2016.
In an interview by DWDD with Lt Col Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the AFP Southern Luzon Command, 4th Infantry Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Rodolfo A. Gesim identified those killed-in-action as Cpl Roland T. Bernal, CAA Fulgencio B. Rolando, CAA Christer M. Gadon, CAA Garry S. Galindez and CAA Ernesto M. Malubay.
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.
After the 30-minute firefight, 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 finding the NPAs that killed a member of the barangay council of Brgy Hagan of Bongabon, Oriental Mindoro a few days ago. “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 MPS 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/ 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 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 LtGen Visaya. AES / PAO SOLCOM / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2015/50098-2/
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