Another suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed again following a 45-minute firefight with soldiers from the Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Kiskis, Barangay Siagao, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur Monday morning, a military official said yesterday.
Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade civil military operation chief Major Francisco Garello said the 36IB soldiers were conducting pursuit operations when they encountered more or less 30 NPAs at around 11:45 a.m.
“The NPA rebels scampered towards different directions leaving one dead,” said Garello.
Garello said the NPA rebels were believed to be members of the Sub Regional Command (SRC) 2130, of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under alias “Salem.”
He said the government troops even seized two AK47 rifles and recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), various war materiel and medical supplies.
“Our troops overran a rebels’ hideout which can accommodate around forty individuals,” said Maj. Garello.
Earlier, Garello said the 36IB troopers also killed an NPA rebel and seized one AK47 rifle after a five minute fight against ten NPA rebels believed to be members of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) 16C1, Guerilla Front (GF16), NEMRC under alias “Jacob” at the Area Katarugan, Cabangahan, Cantilan, Surigao Del Sur.
“Troops are still conducting pursuit operations as of this time,” said Garello adding that the dead NPA guerrilla is still to be identified and will be turned over to the nearest police station.
“We will not rest until these terrorists will be destroyed. They either surrender peacefully or they will be annihilated,” said 402nd Brigade commander Brig. General Maurito L Licudine.
“People are on alert and are informing us of their whereabouts. They have nowhere to hide,” said Licudine.
Brig. Gen. Licudine also said that after the encounter in Cantilan and San Miguel, both of Surigao del Sur, the troops have been relentless in tracking these fleeing NPA guerrillas with the cooperation of local folks who wanted to end the rebels’ terror acts in their area.
“Local folks are volunteering vital information to track down the escaping NPA rebels. That’s why we were able to intercept them,” he said. (Ben Balce,)
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