3 NPAs killed, scores wounded in clash with gov’t troopers

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 19): 3 NPAs killed, scores wounded in clash with gov’t troopers

Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed and an undetermined number of other rebels were reportedly wounded when combat maneuvering troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) engaged the rebels in a fierce gun battle near the border of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental, a military report yesterday said.

Operating troops of the 104th Division Recon Company (104th DRC) and one platoon from 67th Infantry Battalion (67th IB) also seized in the encounter site two M16 Armalite rifles, one M14 rifle, one M203 grenade launcher, cache of assorted live ammunition and anti-government documents with high intelligence value.

Capt. Andrew M. Linao, spokesperson of the Army’s 701st Infantry (Kagitingan) Brigade said combat maneuvering troops of the 67th IB and 104th DRC are still in hot pursuit Monday of the fleeing rebels, following the blood stains along the rebels’ escape route.

“Yes, our ground troops are continuing their massive pursuit operations in an effort to get their (NPAs) wounded comrades-in-arms for immediate medical attention,” said Linao.

The pursuing troops are trailing the fleeing undetermined number of NPAs who belong to guerilla-Front Committee 25 and Section Committee 18 of the CPP-NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, he said.

He said the initial engagement with the NPA rebels occurred on Saturday at 1:30 a.m. in Sitio 35, Barangay Taytayan , Cateel, Davao Oriental.

There was no casualty on the government side in the 45-minute fierce gunfight while the identities of the three slain rebels were not immediately known, Capt. Linao said.

Meanwhile, troops of the 28th IB also encountered an undetermined number of heavily armed NPAs at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday in Sitio Sayon, Barangay Kauswagan, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, he said.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/06/19/3-npas-killed-scores-wounded-in-clash-with-govt-troopers/