Soldier wounded, undetermined number of NPA members killed or injured in encounter
By Martin Sadongdong
A soldier was wounded while an undetermined number of alleged New People's Army (NPA) members were either killed or injured as the military encountered communist rebels in Digos City, Davao del Sur on Good Friday.
Davao Region Map (Photo courtesy of Google Map)
Cpl. Geronimo Calonse Jr. was injured when the troops of the 39th infantry battalion (39IB) of the Philippine Army (PA) encountered a "considerable number" of alleged NPA members in Barangay Goma yesterday morning, said Capt. Mc Gary Dida, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of PA's 1002nd Infantry Brigade, 10th Infantry Division.
According to Dida, the troops acted upon the reports of civilians that members of armed NPA group were planning to sow terror against private companies that failed to meet their extortion demands.
"While the troops of the 39IB conducting security operation toward Barangay Goma, they the armed terrorists. The firefight lasted 30 minutes," Dida said.
Dida added that aside from the wounding of Calonse, an "undetermined number of " were recorded on the enemy side.
Dida assured that the government troops have conducted pursuit operations against the fleeing members of the NPA group.
The encounter happened despite the earlier announcement of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison that a truce between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the government has already been agreed upon for the Holy Week.
The military has denied the existence of the truce.
Meanwhile, high-ranking military officers in the region called for the NPA members to surrender to authorities.
“For those wounded terrorists and some others who are still hiding right now, it is high time for you to peacefully surrender and bring down your firearms to the folds of law and avail the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of our government,” said Lt. Col. Rhojun Rosales, commander of the 39IB.
For his part, Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, 1002nd Brigade commander, said the NPAs "who are terrorizing our country shall be dealt with according to the provisions of the law."
He said the 10ID force has intensified its military operations to thwart the planned atrocities of the NPA group.
Davao Region Map (Photo courtesy of Google Map)
Cpl. Geronimo Calonse Jr. was injured when the troops of the 39th infantry battalion (39IB) of the Philippine Army (PA) encountered a "considerable number" of alleged NPA members in Barangay Goma yesterday morning, said Capt. Mc Gary Dida, civil-military operations (CMO) officer of PA's 1002nd Infantry Brigade, 10th Infantry Division.
According to Dida, the troops acted upon the reports of civilians that members of armed NPA group were planning to sow terror against private companies that failed to meet their extortion demands.
"While the troops of the 39IB conducting security operation toward Barangay Goma, they the armed terrorists. The firefight lasted 30 minutes," Dida said.
Dida added that aside from the wounding of Calonse, an "undetermined number of " were recorded on the enemy side.
Dida assured that the government troops have conducted pursuit operations against the fleeing members of the NPA group.
The encounter happened despite the earlier announcement of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison that a truce between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the government has already been agreed upon for the Holy Week.
The military has denied the existence of the truce.
Meanwhile, high-ranking military officers in the region called for the NPA members to surrender to authorities.
“For those wounded terrorists and some others who are still hiding right now, it is high time for you to peacefully surrender and bring down your firearms to the folds of law and avail the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of our government,” said Lt. Col. Rhojun Rosales, commander of the 39IB.
For his part, Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, 1002nd Brigade commander, said the NPAs "who are terrorizing our country shall be dealt with according to the provisions of the law."
He said the 10ID force has intensified its military operations to thwart the planned atrocities of the NPA group.