A SOLDIER and four militiamen were killed, while four others were wounded in a firefight between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday.
The firefight broke out hours after the guerrillas detonated 11 bombs in different areas in Masbate, which has earlier been tagged as an election hot spot.
A tower of Globe Telecom was damaged.
Lt. Col. Rodolfo Gesim, commander of the Army’s Fourth Infantry Battalion, said troops from its Bravo Company engaged in a gun battle some 30 communist rebels at Barangay Hagan, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro.
During the firefight, which occurred at around 10:30 a.m. and lasted for about 30 minutes, five troops were killed while four others were wounded.
Gesim identified those killed as Cpl. Roland Bernal, Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) member Fulgencio Rolando, CAA Christer Gadon, CAA Garry Galindez and CAA Ernesto Malubay.
Wounded were Pfc. Mark Leo Nacion, Pfc. Argie Capucao, CAA Jesse Francisco and CAA Meddy Gaban.
The casualties were airlifted by military helicopters later in the afternoon to Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, for funeral arrangements and medical attention.
Gesim said the troops were hunting down NPA rebels tagged in the recent killing of a barangay official in Bongabong when they clashed with the rebels.
“The troops were determined to get the killers, they fought bravely with their heart by dislodging the NPAs from their entrenched position,” Gesim said. “But sadly, we lost some of them,” he added.
He added that the rebels laid land mines that inflicted initial casualties to the troops.
Col. Gavin Edjawan, commander of the Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade, has directed pursuit operations as reinforcements were inserted in strategic areas by helicopters, which also provided close air support to the engaged troops.
The Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command said the rebels were part of the group that attacked Paluan town’s police station in Occidental Mindoro in November 2014. Since then, brigade has been tracking the movements of the rebel group.
Navy patrol gun boats are now conducting maritime patrols and interdiction operations in selected waters surrounding Mindoro Island to prevent possible rebel reinforcement coming from the mainland as well as those who intend to escape from the military operations.
“Now that the troops located them, we will use necessary force and Armed Forces assets to neutralize them,” said Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, Solcom chief.