Reds attack hours after state troopers declare province ‘conflict manageable’

By BEN SERRANO,
Correspondent

BUTUAN City — Much to the chagrin of the Agusan del Norte government, National Police, and the military –– who recently inked a memorandum of agreement declaring the province ready for development and conflict manageable –– some 60 fully-armed Maoist combatants, at about 4 pm on Monday, engaged government troopers to a 30-minute gunfight.

Earlier the same day, top officials of the military and the police officially declared the insurgency problem in the province of Agusan del Norte is already “manageable.”

According to 1Lt. Edgar Lemuel L. Adajar, spokesman of the 23rd Infantry Brigade, troops of Bravo Company of the 23IB conducted a security patrol and  Needs Assessment Survey (NAS) in the vicinity of Sitio Bulak, Barangay Lower Olave, Buenavista town in Agusan del Norte at about 4 pm on March 14, when at least 60 fully-armed New People’s Army (NPA) fighters fired at the soldiers.

Adajar believed the communist guerrillas belonged to the Guerrilla Front Committee 4A of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

After the 30-minute gunfight, Adajar added, the red fighters withdrew westward from their position.

Pursuing troopers were able to recover two backpacks, subversive documents, and assorted empty shells. Adajar said the government did not have any casualty.

Late last month, the military and the red fighters clashed at Sitio Kipundaw, Barangay Sangay, Buenavista town in Agusan de Norte on two occassions––Feb. 25 and Feb. 29, respectively.

Lt. Col. Lynart D. Castisimo, 23IB commanding officer, said he has ordered an investigation on the incidents.