BUTUAN CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) fighter was killed, while an undetermined number of other terrorist rebels were believed wounded, in a fierce gun battle between government forces and Communist insurgents in the hinterland area of Barangay Segunda in Esperanza town, Agusan del Sur province, military reported Saturday, January 23.
Civil Military Operations (CMO) Officer Lt. Cecille C. Tappa of the 26th Infantry Battalion (26th IB) told The Manila Bulletin two high-powered firearms, an M16 attached with an M203 grenade launcher, and other assorted live ammunitions were recovered by the troops of the 26th IB after an encounter with about 20 heavily armed Communist NPA terrorists while conducting combat operations in Segunda area.
Other war materials such as four M203 ammunitions, three long magazines, assorted live ammunitions, subversive documents and other personal belongings were also recovered during the encounter, Tappa said.
The identity of the slain rebel was not immediately known, but he was believed to be a member of RSDG COMPAQ of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
“His fellow wounded NPA comrades abandoned his body while withdrawing from the encounter site. The cadaver was turned-over to the Municipal Police Station (MPS) of Esperanza for proper disposition,” the 26th IB CMO officer said.
The encounter erupted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon, and the firefight lasted for 20 minutes.
“The 26th IB conducted focused military operations (FMO) in the area as a response to the reports of some concerned citizens that members of the NPA were seen roaming in the area and were planning to conduct atrocities against the government,” the 26th IB CMO officer said.
Meanwhile, 26th IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce extended his gratitude to the citizens for their cooperation.
"I commend the concerned citizen who reported the presence of these terrorist NPA. Through their cooperation, we were able to immediately disrupt the planned atrocities of these lawless elements. If we weren't able to pre-empt the NPA's plan, it may cause additional burden to our constituents near the area.", he said.
The command group of the 26th IB once again called the attention of the remaining NPAs to return to the folds of the law for them to avail the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and to live in harmony away from violence and useless armed struggle.