Joint military and police units figured in an armed encounter with suspected communist rebels in Ragay, Camarines Sur on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 12.
Brig. Gen. Adonis Bajao, acting division commander of the 9th Infantry Division (9ID), said the skirmish resulted to the death of a man believed to be part of the communist group. His identity is yet to be determined and it was not clear if there is any casualty on the side of the military and police.
A military report said that local military and police forces were conducting security operations when they were fired upon by at least 10 armed men in Barangay Salvacion around 2 p.m.
The involved units were the 9th Infantry Battalion (9IB) and 92nd Division Reconnaissance Company (92DRC) from the Philippine Army; and 1st Camarines Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company and 1st Camarines Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company from the Philippine National Police.
The intense firefight lasted for 30 minutes before the enemies were forced to withdraw, the report said.
During clearing operations, the body of the suspect was recovered by the troops along with two M16 rifles and a bandolier.
“It is saddening to know that another life is lost. Maybe he is still alive and able to join his family for Christmas had it been not for the communist terrorist groups,” Bajao said in Filipino.
Bajao directed Lt. Col. Cleto Lelina Jr., commander of 9IB, to continue scouring the nearby towns to hunt down the escaped rebels.
Just last December 10, two encounters between soldiers and alleged communists also occurred in the adjacent municipality of Del Gallego. Soldiers had seized from them three Molotov bombs, four detonators, two cellular phones, three jungle packs, and other personal belongings.
Meanwhile, the military assured residents in the province that security forces are on alert to prevent communist groups from taking advantage of the holiday season to launch armed attacks against civilians.