DAVAO City — Amid calls from the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the government to stop offensives and focus attention to terror groups, clashes between government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels continue, leaving two soldiers killed and six others wounded in Davao Region over the weekend.
The Army’s 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Rhyan Batchar said the soldiers were killed and wounded in an encounter between the 71st Infantry Battalion and more or less 35 NPA rebels in Barangay New Barili, Maco, Compostela Valley province.
The names of the casualties are still being withheld.
Batchar said the wounded soldiers are undergoing treatment at the Army’s hospital.
Meanwhile, a security patrol by the combined elements of the 60 and 70 Infantry Battalions (IB) on Sunday led to the arrest of the NPA’s alleged supply officer identified as Randy Martin Magadan, who was captured with one improvised explosive device.
Magadan, who is also known as Andrew, is reportedly the supply officer of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command (PBC4) – South Mindanao Regional Command. He is 24 years old and a resident of Purok 7, Barangay Bollucan, Laak, Compostela Valley.
The military said Magadan was trying to plant a bomb along Km 26, Barangay Kidawa in Laak town.
He was turned over to the Laak Municipal Police Station for blotter procedure and filing of case.
In Davao City Sunday, the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command 2 (PBC2) – South Regional Command 3 (SRC3) ambushed the scout platoon of the 3rd Infantry Battalion while passing along the national highway in Pagan Pequino, Barangay Tamugan in Marilog District.
The Army platoon pursued the attackers leading to almost an hour firefight. No casualty was reported.
In Davao Occidental, troops belonging to the 73rd Infantry Battalion were attacked by armed men believed to be NPA rebels while conducting patrol in the vicinity of Sitio Mamacao, Barangay Marabatuan in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. No casualty was reported.
In Davao Oriental, two encounters between government soldiers and the NPA rebels occurred in the towns of Cateel and Banaybanay. (pna)
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