Troops recover IED in Davao Oriental clash as 3 rebels surrender anew

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 15): Troops recover IED in Davao Oriental clash as 3 rebels surrender anew

Troopers from the 28th Infantry Battalion have recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) following a day-long firefight with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Lupon town, Davao Oriental Tuesday morning.

In the same day, three rebels formally surrendered to authorities in Davao Occidental and Davao Del Norte.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the clash took place 8:45 a.m. when troops from the 28th Infantry Battalion encountered around 40 NPA rebels in Purok 2, Barangay New Visayas, Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Two MG-520 attack helicopters provided air support to the engaged troops.

No soldier was hurt while blood stains were visibly seen in the encounter area indicating that the NPA suffered casualties.

The soldiers recovered 40 backpacks, medical paraphernalia, subversive documents and several personal belongings left by the fleeing NPA rebels.

At around 5 p.m., pursuing troops of 28th Infantry Battalion discovered an IED, blasting caps and food stuffs left by the blocking forces of the NPA in Purok Linao, Barangay Don Mariano Marcos, Lupon, Davao Oriental.

Meanwhile, three NPA members, one of them bringing along a high-powered rifle turned themselves in to the folds of law.

Alias "Alas", 29, team leader of NPA Guerrilla Front 71, voluntarily submitted himself with his Garand rifle to the 73rd Infantry Battalion in Malita, Davao Occidental.

While alias "Aldren", 26; and alias Omar, 46, who are both members of NPA PulangBagani Company 4, submitted themselves to the 60th Infantry Battalion.

The three surrendered rebels revealed that hardships and starvation brought about by the relentless combat operations of the military encouraged them to return to the folds of the law.

A separate report had reached the 10th Infantry Division that a group of 30 NPA belonging to Guerrilla Front 18 blocked and held 80 civilian commuters at around 8:50 a.m. of the same day at Purok Upper Waywayan, Barangay Don Mariano Marcos, Lupon, Davao Oriental.

The civilians were reportedly brought inside a chapel, subjected to communist propaganda and later released after an hour.

The same group of NPAs later abducted CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) Rene Doller, assigned at Ligadan Detachment, Barangay Don Enriquez Lopez, Mati City.

CAA Doller was onboard his XRM motorcycle when flagged by the NPA at the same vicinity.

The NPAs burned the victim's motorcycle before fleeing the area.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=964250