Four soldiers wounded in pursuit operations vs NPA rebels in ComVal

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 16): Four soldiers wounded in pursuit operations vs NPA rebels in ComVal

Four government troops were wounded as they continue to run after a group of rebels who were believed behind the burning of several mining equipment in Barangay Masara, Maco, Compostela Valley last week.

Captain Ernest Carolina, Public Affairs Officer of the 10th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, said members of the 1001st Infantry Brigade engaged some 30 heavily armed rebels at 4:50 pm on Tuesday (April 15) in a firefight that lasted for 45 minutes. The identities of the wounded soldiers were not revealed pending the relay of information about their situation to their respective families.

Carolina said several artillery batteries were fired at the position of the rebels during the encounter.

“The rebels scampered to different directions while the troops cleared and discovered a temporary encampment with enplaced running trenches and foxholes that can accommodate around 40-50 people. Traces of landmine emplacements were likewise discovered by the government troops,” he said.

Earlier, a top military commander ordered government troops to pursue the rebels behind the attack of a mining firm last Thursday in Barangay Masara where they burned several mining equipment.

Major General Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, said soldiers must make sure that the rebels could no longer harass and inflict damage to the civilians.

The rebels allegedly threatened the mining firm to give in to their demand for a larger amount of money as part of their extortion activity in the area.

Colonel Elmer Quiros, acting commanding officer of the 1001st Brigade, said a joint security operation between the police and the soldiers is ongoing in the area to keep the rebels at bay.

He chided the rebels for their continued disregard of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

“It is clearly indicated in Part III, Article II of the CARHRIHL) that civilians must not be subject of any attack including establishments where civilians maybe affected,” Quiros pointed out.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=635846