CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) amazon and her comrade-in-arm were killed while an undetermined number of communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) were believed critically wounded when a fierce gun battle erupted between government troops and communist insurgents near the border of Caraga region and Northern Mindanao.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Attack pilots of the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) strike wing and helicopter wing are ordered on “standby alert” on Wednesday by Maj. Gen. Ronald C. Villanueva, commanding general of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division for possible air cover to the pursuing troops of the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23rd IB).
The 23rd IB also overran the CNTs camp that could accommodate some 60 CNTs, it said.
The identities of the two slain CNTs were not revealed as they were dragged by their comrades as they retreated from the encounter site, the military said.
Brig. Gen. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal, commanding general of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade said based on reports reaching them, the CNTs were conducting extortion activities in the village which prompted the army commander to launch security operations.
Initial report received by the 402nd “Stingers” Brigade based here also said combat maneuvering troops of the Scout Platoon of the 23rd IB under the command of Lt. Col. Francisco Molina, Jr. already seized in the initial 30 minute fierce gunfight one Ak47 automatic rifle and 12 back packs containing personal belongings, assorted medicines, and anti-government documents.
Capt. Al Anthony Pueblas, Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the 402nd Brigade said Brig. Gen. Gacal already ordered the deployment of more combat maneuvering troops to beef up the forces of the 23rd IB.
“The scout platoon of the 23rd IB were responding to the information (provided by) the villagers on the alleged extortion activities of the CNTs in the village when they initially engaged some 30 heavily armed CNTs at 7:20 a.m. on Tuesday (June 19),” the 402nd CMO officer said
He said the initial fierce gunfight lasted for more than 30 minutes in Purok 6, Mingragang area, Barangay Abunda, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental.
He said the encountered CNTs were members of the Guerilla Front Committee 4-A (GFC 4-A) under a certain “Commander Brayan” of the CPP-NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
“The embattled CNTs, however, disengaged from the firefight after 30 minutes, due to firepower and vantage position of the Scout Platoon of the 23rd IB,” claimed Capt. Pueblas.
The 23rd IB commander also sent troops to pursue the fleeing rebels, he said.
The rebels hastily withdrew towards the northeast direction of Mingragang area, also of Barangay Abunda in Magsaysay town of that same province, near the border of Carmen, Agusan del Norte in northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region, Capt. Pueblas said.
“Our operating troops are still conducting hot pursuit operation following the several bloodstains along the escape route of withdrawal of the fleeing rebels,” the 402nd CMO officer said.
No one was reported hurt on the government side during the initial heavy gun battle, he added.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/20/npa-amazon-comrade-slain-in-fierce-gun-battle-with-govt-troops-near-caraga/
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