Army, rebels clash in Gingoog

From the Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (May 9): Army, rebels clash in Gingoog

MARINES securing the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines encountered members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Samay in Gingoog City on Thursday morning.

Major Leo Bongosia, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division (4th IB) of the Philippine Army, said the marines encountered the NPA rebels while they were on foot patrol coming in from behind the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) for Barangay Samay.

Bongosia said the NPA withdrew after the encounter, but it left one marine wounded.
Bongosia said the marines are now securing the perimeter of the polling centers in the hinterland barangays of Gingoog City, while another troops are pursuing the fleeing rebels.

Bongosia added the 500 marines coming from the Marine Landing Battalion 3 have secured remote barangays in Misamis Oriental, Gingoog City, and Agusan provinces.

Soldiers of the 8th Infantry Battalion (8th IB) also encountered rebels in Barangay Sigundanon in Kitaotao town on Thursday morning.

Lieutenant Colonel Romualdo Landingan, commanding officer of the 8th IB, said the army was securing the route for the BEIs leading toward Sigundahon when they soldiers clashed with the NPA rebels.

Landingan said the rebels were spotted by the army and an encounter ensued. The firefight lasted for several minutes before the rebels withdrew.

Landingan added that at the time of the encounter, the BEIs, PCOS machines and election paraphernalia were still on their way for distribution to the polling centers in the areas.

“The soldiers were able to clear the area and the BEIs passed safely,” Landingan said.
Landingan added the soldiers are there to ensure the security and protection of the BEIs in polling centers and to guarantee peaceful and fair elections, “where our people are unhampered to exercise their right to vote,” Landingan said.

In Barangay Pagan in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, soldiers who were patrolling in the area clashed with about 20 rebels. The firefight lasted for five minutes, but there was no casualty or injured from both sides in the encounter, Bongosia told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Bongosia said the encounter resulted to the delay in the delivery of PCOS machines intended for three villages in Pagan, Kulaman, and Sigundanon.

The army advised the police of delay of the delivery of the machines until the areas were secured and no single NPA member is sighted.

Bongosia said the encounter could possibly be considered as election-related violence since the army has received reports that the rebels intend to disturb the delivery of the PCOS machines.

“This could be considered as election-related since the NPAs would want to create trouble to disrupt the upcoming elections,” he said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2013/05/10/army-rebels-clash-gingoog-281713