Miag-ao clash: 2 'rebels' killed

From Panay News (May 6): Miag-ao clash: 2 'rebels' killed

3 soldiers hurt in IED explosion in Calinog

Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with government troops yesterday in Miag-ao, Iloilo, police and military officials said.

Two hours later, three soldiers on their way to a village in Calinog town were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) – believed planted by rebels – detonated.

Authorities have yet to ascertain the real identities of the slain suspected rebels.

“We did not recover any identification document, just a wristwatch,” said Chief Inspector Johnny Tumambing, Miag-ao police chief.

The encounter happened at 5:49 a.m. in Barangay Cabalaunan, Miag-ao.

Citing accounts from locals, Tumambing said one of those slain was “Bebot Goma” of the NPA Panay Southern Front Committee.

Police and the military have yet to countercheck this.

Involved in the encounter were members of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion and the Military Intelligence Company.

At the time they were out to verify intelligence information that rebels were recruiting members and extorting money from villagers, said Brigadier General Pio Diñoso, 301st Infantry Brigade commander.

When they reached the village around 15 armed men opened fire at them.

After a 10-minute firefight, the armed men – believed to be rebels – withdrew toward the northeast of Barangay Ongyod, leaving their two dead companions behind, Diñoso said.

“No fatality and wounded among our men,” said Diñoso.

The military said they further recovered from the encounter site a baby Armalite and an AK-47 with ammunition.

In Calinog, the three wounded soldiers were part of a team on patrol duty, Diñoso said. He did not specify the number of soldiers.

They were on board a military truck and passing by Barangay Caratagan when the IED exploded at around 8 a.m.

Diñoso insisted that the shrapnel wounds the soldiers sustained were minor.

“Konting galos lang ang natamo ng tao natin. We already applied medication,” the Army commander said.

As of this writing the Philippine Army has yet to release the names of the wounded soldiers.

Diñoso said they suspected that the NPA’s Central Front Committee was behind the Calinog explosion.

More soldiers were sent to the area to augment the existing forces as they conduct follow-up operations, he added.

https://www.panaynews.net/miag-ao-clash-2-rebels-killed/