ORMOC CITY-A short gun battle between members of government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) at the hinterland village of this city has resulted in the wounding of a soldier and the recovery of firearms and improvised explosive devices at the rebels’ camp.
Brig. Gen. Lope Dagoy, 802 brigade commander, said the soldiers of the 93rd Infantry Battalion based in Barangay Aguiting in Kananga town, were having foot patrol operation on Tuesday (June 26) morning at the vicinity of Brgy. Mahayahay, this city, when they came across a group of NPA combatants said to be belonging to the Front Committee Leyte.
The rebels allegedly fired at them and detonated improvised land mine which resulted in the injury of one of the soldiers.
A 30-minute fire fight also ensued between the two groups with the rebel members fleeing, Dagoy said in a press conference.
The wounded soldier, who was not identified by Dagoy, was rushed to the hospital and is now in stable condition.
A hot pursuit operation was conducted immediately for the possible arrest of the NPA members.
The operating team, led by 1Lt. Sheenan Kub-, recovered M16 rifle, several magazines loaded with bullets, IEDs, blasting caps, subversive documents, medical equipment, numerous cellular phones, communication equipment, personal belongings, and several others at the rebel camp.
Dagoy described the newly-built insurgent camp as a temporary structure that was built with movable set up and could be subjected to transfer at any time.
It has 16 bunkers, kitchen and a toilet.
Dagoy lauded the informant for providing tip on the presence of the NPA rebels at the said village which eventually hampered possible activities the left group may have arranged.
He said that the Front Committee Leyte operates in the towns of Carigara, Capoocan, Barugo, Tunga and Kananga, all in Leyte, with no less than 30 members.
Meantime, Dagoy, who once served as the commanding officer of the 19th IB who’s based is now occupied by the current 93rd IB, warned businessmen to refrain from providing revolutionary money to the rebels or face raps if evidence suffices for charges filing against them.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
