BUTUAN CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) female rebel was killed while another wounded amazon was captured in a gun battle with elements of the 30th Infantry Battalion (30th IB) in the hinterlands of Barangay Camam-onan, in Gigaquit town, Surigao del Norte province on Wednesday, January 13.
According to 30th IB Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer 1nd Lt. Benjamin Elisand De Dios (OS), the soldiers encountered members of Sandatahang Yunit Pangpropaganda 16 C-2 (SYP16C2) Guerilla Front16 (GF 16) and Banakon Squad of SDG 16 of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
The identity of the slain amazon, as well as her injured comrade, was temporarily withheld, but it was disclosed that they were from Surigao del Norte.
The encounter took place on Wednesday afternoon when troops of 30th IB responded to a report from the community about the presence of the armed NPAs, who were extorting money from the Royalty Shares of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Communities in the area, De Dios said.
While the patrolling elements were on their way, they were fired upon by undetermined number of heavily armed rebels led to a firefight that lasted more than 45 minutes, the 30th IB CMO officer said.
“The situation led to a firefight as the government troopers returned fire that lasted for about 45 minutes, forcing the NPAs to scamper in different directions, and leaving behind the cadaver of the NPA amazon and another helpless and wounded rebel who sustained a gunshot wound in her thigh,” the Army officer said.
The remains of the slain female rebel was already brought to the funeral service, and was properly turned over to her family, while the other wounded rebel was immediately brought to the Forward Medical Support Team in Butuan City and was provided with necessary medical assistance, and eventually brought to Camp Evangelista Station Hospital for further medical treatment for her speed and guaranteed recovery.
The troops were able to overrun the enemy camp, and seized two AK47 Rifles, one M16 Armalite Rifle, assorted live bullets and other war materials, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Meanwhile, 30th IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Ryan Charles G. Callanta said: “We positively responded to the call for help by the IP Communities who were getting fed-up of the terrorists’ extortion, and whose desires are to live peacefully in their communities free from the harassment, fear and intimidation, deceit and abuses by these terrorist NPAs.”
“Our troops are always there and ready to provide security to our IP brothers and sisters in the area. I am personally saddened that another life was wasted whose conviction was deceived by the lies, baseless and pointless struggle that for quite so long, these CNTs are sowing to lure innocent civilians particularly minors and youth,” the 30th IB commander said.