By FROILAN GALLARDO,
Special Correspondent
TWO suspected communist rebels were killed during an exchange of firepower between a band of New People’s Army rebels (NPA) and Army forces in Butuan City over the weekend.
The encounter took place on Saturday, three days after rebels fired shots at health workers conducting an anti-polio vaccination in Sitio Zapanta, Barangay Kalipayan, Kitcharao town in Agusan del Norte.
Col. Maurito Licudine, commander of the Army’s 402nd Brigade said the soldiers found two AK47 rifles and two M653 rifles left behind by the rebels.
Licudine alleged that the rebels carried away the body of one of their members.
“The other was left behind; we turned it over to the barangay officials for burial,” Licudine said.
Licudine said the firefight started when a platoon of soldiers encountered around 20 NPA rebels in Sitio Salvacion, Barangay Bugabos in Butuan City on Saturday morning.
He said the firefight lasted only 10 minutes but was very intense.
The encounter came two days after Army troops engaged in another firefight in Jabonga town, Agusan del Norte.
Licudine said another platoon of soldiers were tracking a band of NPA rebels when they engaged them in a 30-minute firefight.
Again the rebels withdrew Licudine said but left several rifles and ammunition behind.
Licudine said the soldiers seized an M14 and M4 rifle with grenade launcher; ammunition and electrical wires for improvised explosive devices.
On Wednesday, health workers conducting an anti-polio vaccination in the hinterlands of Agusan del Norte were attacked by suspected rebels.
Licudine said four NPA members tried to flag down a gray Toyota Innova with nurses in Sitio Zapanta, Barangay Kalipayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. They had just come from an all-day polio vaccination activity in Zapanta Valley, a major conflict area for the government and the NPA.
“The driver told us he did not stop the car when he saw the four armed rebels in the middle of the road trying to stop them,” Licudine said.
Licudine said the rebels fired at the speeding Innova, hitting the windshield.
Licudine said the nurses identified as Ingrid Ramos Archinue, head nurse of the Kitcharao health office; midwife Jenifer Morales Veterbo and the unnamed driver were unhurt.
He said the Innova was traveling with a Multicab full of volunteers after they ended their police vaccination in Sitio Zapanta.
Licudine said the police is now investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, Licudine said they offered the Department of Health workers in Caraga some military escort if they go to conflict areas like the Zapanta Valley.
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