THE military revised its narrative of its operations against the New People’s Army in Butuan City, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon last week saying seven rebels among them five women have been killed since Friday.
Major Francisco Garello Jr., spokesperson of the Army 4th Infantry Division said soldiers were able to seize 20 high-powered firearms including seven AK 47 rifles, four M4 rifles, four AR 18 rifles, an M16 rifle, two M14 rifles, and two M16 with attached M203 grenade launchers.
“The number of body count in the encounter in Butuan City last Friday was raised from three to five The soldiers also found one more AK 47 rifle,” Garillo said.
Maj. General Jose Maria Cuerpo, 4ID commanding general said soldiers of the 29th Infantry Battalion supported by Philippine Air Force Turkish-made T129B attack helicopters killed three rebels including two females and a male companion in Sitio Dugyanan last Friday.
It was the first time that the T129B attack helicopters purchased by the Philippine government for a US$269 million government-to-government contract with Turkey, were known to be used in operations against the NPA.
Garello said soldiers found two more bodies of NPA rebels—a female and a male ― from the June 16 encounter site in Mt. Apo-Apo in Sitio Dugyanan, Barangay Anticala in Butuan City last Saturday.
“This raised the body count from three to five NPA rebels killed in the encounter last Friday. The soldiers also found one more AK 47 rifle bringing the total number of firearms recovered to 16,” Garillo said.
Garillo said the bodies of the three female NPA rebels and two of their male companies would be brought down from the mountains by Monday.
In Bukidnon province, Brigadier General Michele Anayron, commanding general of the 403rd Infantry Brigade said following a tip from residents, soldiers encountered at least 15 NPA rebels in Sitio Malinao, Barangay Kalasungay, Malaybalay City.
Anayron said a female NPA was killed after a 15-minute encounter with the soldiers of the 8th Infantry Battalion. He said the soldiers suffered no casualties.
He said an AK 47 rifle, an M14 rifle, and an improvised anti-personnel landmine were recovered from the encounter site.
In Misamis Oriental, one female rebel was killed and an AK 47 rifle was recovered after an encounter with soldiers in Sitio Kalhaan, Barangay Minalwang Wednesday afternoon.
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