Army slays 3 NPA rebels in twin Misamis Oriental clashes
The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) figured in two armed encounters with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Claveria, Misamis Oriental on Friday, March 18.
Three male suspects were killed in the encounters between elements of the 58th Infantry “Dimalupig” Battalion (58IB) and alleged officers of the Guerilla Front Huawei of Sub-Regional Committee 1 (SRC1) of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy, commanding officer of the 58IB, identified the slain suspects as Agay Taquin alias “Kerby,” vice commander of Platoon Falcon, SRC 1, NCMRC; Andrew Odiongan alias “Dave,” political instructor of Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad (SR SDG) Eagles, SRC 1, NCMRC; and Joan Pajardo alias “Amirgo,” Team Leader B of Squad 1, GF Huawei, SRC 1.
A report from the 58IB said that the first encounter occurred around 7 a.m. in the hinterlands of Barangay Plaridel while the troops were following the traces of an alleged NPA hideout discovered in the area.
The report said that the soldiers exchanged bullets with around 10 armed elements of the GF Huawei of the SRC1, NCMRC for 10 minutes. The enemies were forced to withdraw as they were overpowered by the soldiers.
“Heavy bloodstains were discovered as the troops continued their pursuit of the fleeing enemies,” the report noted.
After an hour of tailing the fleeing rebels, a second encounter erupted which lasted for about 10 minutes, too.
When the firefight stopped, the troops scoured the site of the twin encounters and found the bodies of three suspects.
“The Army has been merciful to the armed rebels in recent months, urging them to return to the folds of the law and live a peaceful and normal life, thus, avoiding unnecessary death because it is our duty as soldiers to protect and secure the lives of the innocent and the progress of Misamis Oriental,” Canatoy said.
“Even during election season, we will remain vigilant against this terrorist group and anyone else planning to incite violence in MisOr. We will not hesitate to use force against peacebreakers and other threat groups that continue to use terrorism because we do not tolerate it,” he added.
Aside from the cadavers, the troops also found a KG9 sub-machine gun, an M16 rifle, a carbine rifle, five makeshift tents, one long magazine for M16 loaded with ammunition, one magazine for carbine loaded with ammo, personal belongings, and other documents from the slain suspects.
Meanwhile, no casualties have been reported on the government's side, according to Canatoy.
The found cadavers were handed by the troops to local officials for safekeeping and subsequent turn-over to their respective families.