TWO reported members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while another one was captured as government troops clashed with rebels in Davao del Sur and Cagayan over the weekend, the military reported.
Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command Spokesman Major Ezra Balagtey said a composited team from the Army’s 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion and 39th Infantry Battalion clashed with rebels at Sitio Bayongon, Barangay Astorga, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur last Saturday.
During the firefight, a rebel was killed and his body was recovered by the operating troops. A woman, also a reported member of the NPA, was captured. She was identified as Jessa Lumana.
Lumana was brought to a hospital in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur for medical checkup before she was turned over to the police.
A soldier identified as Cpl. Kenneth James Balicot was also wounded during the firefight.
Balagtey said soldiers who were on pursuit operations captured several hours later a wounded rebel, who died while being administered with emergency medical aid.
Military officials later identified him as Julito Pueblas alias Taghoy, leader of the Sentro de Grabidad of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 51 that reportedly operates in Davao del Sur and in Toril, Davao City.
“Taghoy, who was severely injured, was rescued by the pursuing troops at around 5 p.m. of the same day during the pursuit operations,” Balagtey said.
“The troops exerted all efforts to administer first aid and save the groaning and severely wounded NPA leader while evacuating him to a helicopter landing point. Unfortunately, alias Taghoy expired while in transit,” Balagtey added.
Pueblas and his group, the military claimed, were responsible for the ambush of policemen who responded to a crime in March 2017 and the ambush of an ambulance in March 2014, both in Managa, Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
Pueblas and his group were encountered by soldiers at Barangay Goma in Digos City early this month, wherein troops recovered firearms and landmines.
In Cagayan province, elements of the 17th Infantry Battalion also clashed with about 30 rebels at Sitio Tallat, Barangay Masi in the municipality of Rizal.
No one from both sides was wounded during the 45-minute firefight, which began at around 6:30 a.m. last Saturday, although Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command Spokesman Lt. Col. Isagani Nato said that the soldiers recovered a firearm and improvised bombs.