Monday, February 13, 2017

Sarangani, ComVal clashes leave one soldier wounded

From the Mindanao Times (Feb 13): Sarangani, ComVal clashes leave one soldier wounded  

 
A SOLDIER of the 73rd Infantry Battalion was wounded after a series of armed clashes with the NPAs in Sarangani and Compostela Valley on Saturday, Feb. 11.
 
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division, said the first incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday when troops engaged communist guerrillas belonging to the Front Guerilla 71 in a two-hour firefight in Sitio Tangis, Barangay Little Datal Anggas, Sarangani.
 
The wounded soldier, whose name is withheld pending notification of his family, was immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan hospital in Davao City for medical attention.

Meanwhile, three consecutive firefights occurred in Barangay Bollucan, Laak, Compostela Valley between troops of 60th IB and the NPA belonging to Guerilla Front 34 and Pulang Bagani Company 4 starting at 10:40 a.m.

The exchange of gunfire lasted for about an hour.

Simba fighting vehicles were immediately dispatched resulting to another 40-minute gunbattle against the withdrawing NPA 700 meters away from the first encounter at around 11:50 a.m. of the same day. The troops involved in the first encounter pursued the NPA in the same area which resulted into half-an-hour clash.

The troops of 73rd IB were in pursuit of the fleeing NPAs following a series of clashes in Sitio Kisoy, Barangay Little Baguio, Malita, Davao Occidental and Sitio Dulid, Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel, Sarangani on Feb. 6 and 8, respectively.
 
On the other hand, troops of the 60th IB pursuing the NPA in Laak, Compostela Valley earlier stumbled upon several NPA encampments in barangays Macopa, Langtud and Bollukan.
 
Batchar said the latest incidents involved the employment of MG 520 attack helicopter and 105mm howitzer which delivered fire support to the engaged troops.

Ground forces are now conducting clearing operations.

In a separate report from the 67th Infantry Battalion, troops on board three KM450 military trucks were attacked with an improvised explosive device at the vicinity of Daw-an, Barangay San Jose, Caraga, Davao Oriental around 2:45 a.m. of Feb. 11. No soldier was hurt in this incident.

The 10th Infantry Division earlier accounted 10 NPA rebels who surrendered since Feb. 1.

Maj.Gen Rafael Valencia, the division commander, said relentless combat operations will continue until they cripple the NPA.

“We are urging NPA members to return to the folds of the law and abandon the group that continuously extorts, attacks and harass our fellow Filipinos,” he added.
 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.