Rebs attack anew, kill 3 militiamen in Gingoog

By LITO RULONA
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

MAOIST guerrillas ambushed militiamen in the outskirts of Gingoog City, Sunday evening, killing three men in the process. The attack comes even as government troops are still reeling from an attack of the same armed group in Barangay Alagatan of the same city, barely two weeks ago.

In an e-mailed press advisory, Monday, Capt. Jo Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) based in Camp Edilberto Evangelista, this city, said that an undetermined number of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked in Barangay Hindangon, Gingoog City at around 8 pm, Sunday.

Martinez identified the three fatalities as Alfredo Sarno, Perry Abao, and Pernan Abao. All three fatalities belong to the Higaonon tribe and are enlisted as combatants under the Citizens’ Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu). He claimed the three were off duty, wore civilian clothes, and were unarmed.

“Civilians in the area saw the NPAs flag down the three on board their XRM motorcycle, and ‘massacred’ them along the way,” the 4th ID’s press advisory reads.

Martinez said that the exchange of gunfire lasted for about 40 minutes and that the Maoist guerrillas withdrew northeast from the area.

It was an ambush, according to Capt. Nestor Endroso, spokesman of the 58th Infantry Battalion. Endroso told local radio the rebels belonging to the NPA’s Guerrilla Front Committee – 4A from Agusan del Norte also “harassed” the Hindangon Patrol Base, and an over 40-minute sporadic exchange of firepower ensued.

“The Cafgus were in civilian attire and unarmed when they were ambushed by the rebel groups. They are about to report for duty after 15 days of vacation,” he said.

The same press advisory quoted Major Gen. Oscar Lactao, commanding general of 4th ID, as saying they will still launch a rescue operation for PFC. Adonis Jessie Lupeba despite the recent attack.

“Together with the PNP, we shall continue our rescue operation in the area especially now that we are getting timely and relevant information about the location of the NPA captors,” the advisory quoted Lactao as saying.