NEUTRALIZED. A still unidentified New People’s Army rebel was killed in a 10-minute encounter with the trooper of the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Simbalan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on Tuesday (Jan. 16, 2024). Government troops also recovered from the encounter site three high-powered firearms with ammunition. (Photo from 23IB)
BUTUAN CITY – A communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla was killed after a 10-minute encounter in the hinterlands of Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte province, a military official said Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Balingao, the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) commander, said soldiers were immediately sent to Barangay Simbalan of the town on Tuesday after residents reported the presence of armed rebels in the area.
“We immediately responded after receiving the report to prevent the terrorists from conducting extortions and atrocities on the civilians in the area,” Balingao said in a statement.
The rebels, he said, belong to the NPA Platoon 2, Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad Sagay (SRSDG), Sub-Regional Committee 3 (SRC-3) of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
After the clash, government troops recovered three high-powered firearms from the encounter site.
“The rebels managed to carry the wounded, as evidenced by the heavy blood stains our troops discovered along their withdrawal route,” Balingao said.
7 rebels yield to PRO-13
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga) reported on Wednesday the surrender of seven NPA insurgents to various police field units in the region.
Among the surrenderers were “Jobert,” 35, the leader of NPA Squad 2, Platoon 2 of SRSDG, SRC-3, NCMRC, and “Ker-Ker,” 39, the courier of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Kingdom of the dismantled Guerrilla Front 4A of NCMRC.
The two also handed over a .38-caliber pistol and an improvised shotgun upon their surrender.
Over the weekend, five other insurgents turned themselves in to police units in the region, PRO-13 said. (PNA)
