BUTUAN CITY – The Army 23rd Infantry Battalion under the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division captured two wounded New People’s Army amazons in an encounter in Barangay Bitan-agan, this city, on Wednesday, January 24.
They were taken and under tight security in a hospital here on Thursday, January 25.
TROOPS seized communist war materials in a gun battle in Barangay Bitan-agan, Butuan City, on Wednesday. (Photo via Mike U. Crismundo)
Brig. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commanding general of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, said that troops of the 23rd IB under Lt. Col. Jeffrey Balingao, commanding officer, figured in a 10-minute gun battle with more than 10 communist rebels under Platoon 2 of the Sub-regional Sentro de Gravida Sagay, Sub-regional Committee 3, of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Committee in Barangay Bitan-agan here.
Soldiers recovered an M653 rifle, bullets, bandoliers, and backpacks containing personal belongings owned by the NPA in the encounter site.
Identities of the captured rebels, one of them a medic of the headquarters NEO of the NCMRC, were withheld for their security.
Orio said they will continue to be treated and accorded with necessary assistance until they fully recuperate.
“This is in line with our strict adherence to the respect of the human rights and to the provisions under the international humanitarian law,” said Orio.
“We are now coordinating with the Police Regional Office-13 for filing of appropriate cases against these NPA,” the 402nd Brigade commander added.
Major Gen. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo, 4th ID chief, thanked the people for continuing to cooperate and vigilant against the NPA.
Cuerpo lauded the troops’ resilience and encouraged them to continue serving with dedication until lasting peace for every community in the region is achieved.