Army launches offensive vs NPA
THE MILITARY has intensified their operation after a soldier and a civilian were killed while another one was wounded in an armed encounter with New People’s Army in sitio Tubison , Barangay Astorga, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur at 5:15 a.m. yesterday.
This came after a soldier was killed in an ambush by alleged NPA members at sitio Colorado, Brgy. Sibulan, Toril.
Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, commander of 10th Infantry Division , said they have received reports on the presence of the armed group in Sta. Cruz which is close to a populated area.
“We chased them out so an encounter was inevitable to happen,” Valencia said. He also said that troops from the 1002nd IB and Scout Rangers were deployed in the area.
Valencia said that NPAs from North Cotabato area merged with their comrades in the hinterlands of Toril.
“The guerilla fronts have converged and are moving around because one group has lost their leader,” he added.
Valencia said this is an inter-regional operation to show that they are still a force to contend with by government.
The NPA Guerilla Front 54 under Alias Jinggoy and Guerilla Front 51 under Kumander Jasmin are the groups operating along the hinterlands in Toril area.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, the division spokesperson, said that the series of NPA attacks and clashes were due to their offensives against the rebels as ordered by Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia , the division commander.
“The attacks launched by the NPAs is a tactic to scare those civilians who do not support them and to get back the confidence of the civilians,” Batchar said.
He said that the barangays were cleared from the NPAs influence.
“This does not mean that the armed group had been finally defeated but it only signifies that they have been denied their mass base and their traditional guerilla bases,” he said.
“Our declaration of the village being peaceful and ready for development means that the civilians have stopped supporting the NPAs,” he said.
Batchar further said the NPAs strength has already weakened.
At 5.a.m. yesterday, the troops under the 1002nd Infantry Brigade encountered the NPAs of Guerilla Front 51 under alias Jasmin who were reported roaming around Barangay Astorga.
The firefight ensued for about one hour that killed a soldier and a civilian, and wounding another soldier.
Batchar declined to name the casualties pending the notification of their families and said they will probe why a civilian was involved.
The wounded soldier was already evacuated and provided medical attention.
Meanwhile, Maj.Gen. Rafael C. Valencia, the division commander ordered pursuit of the fleeing NPA members.
Joint AFP and PNP checkpoints were also set up to block the armed group.
Reportedly , 400 residents evacuated to a nearby gymnasium for fear of being hit in the crossfire.
The 1002nd Infantry Brigade has coordinated with the local governments of Sta .Cruz and Davao del Sur for the necessary assistance to the populace who were affected by the said armed conflict.
Valencia also informed the public that the situation in Barangay Astorga is manageable and under control by government forces and agencies.
“The different agencies of government are closely working together to address and mitigate the effects of this incident on the people,” he said. ”We are asking for the understanding and cooperation of the community affected by the armed encounter,” he added.
“We also commiserate with the family, relatives and friends of our soldier who valiantly died in pursuit of peace for Davao del Sur and the rest of Davao Region,” he futher said.
Monday’s ambush
On Monday, an ambush killed a soldier and wounded another in sitio Colorado, Brgy. Sibulan at 10am.
Police identified the victims as PFC Jilmor D. Balulong, 25, resident of General Santos City who was killed while wounded was PFC Junmar Dave R. Buenafe ,24 , a resident of Cotabato city .
Both soldiers were assigned at Sitio Ogis Military Patrol Base in Barangay Eden in Toril .
According to the report ,the victims were onboard a motorcycle from Sitio Lawaon patrol base in Barangay Sibulan going towards Toril Proper when they were fired by alleged members of New People’s Army while they were passing sitio Colorado.
Right after the incident a team led by Sr. Insp. Joel M. Migullas established a checkpoint at Baracatan road for possible interception of the rebels.
The cadaver of PFC Balulong was brought to Angel Funeral Parlor in Toril while PFC Buenafe was brought to Davao Medical and Research Center Inc. at JP Laurel Avenue for medication.
Troops of 84th Infantry Battalion are still conducting pursuit operations after the armed group.
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