Two suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed after an encounter between soldiers of the 30th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, and suspected NPAs in the mountainous part of Sitio Pan-ukan, Barangay Camboayon in Bacuag town, Surigao del Norte Monday.
The encounter occurred after the 30IB received a report from civilians regarding an armed group that allegedly carried out extortion and intimidation in their area.
The army immediately conducted a patrol. They encountered the group of Armed Propaganda Unit 16C2 of Guerilla Front 16 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee under the leadership of Alberto Castañeda alias JD.
It is estimated that more than 10 suspected NPAs were encountered by government troops which lasted for 25 minutes resulting in the death of two unidentified NPA members and the arrest of two other members.
Recovered in the encounter was an M4 rifle, a carbine rifle with a magazine and eight bullets, two shotguns, an improvised explosive device with a blasting cap, a hand grenade, four backpacks with personal belongings, various types of drugs, and dextrose.
2 suspected NPAs killed in Surigao del Norte encounter
The deceased NPAs have been brought to Bacuag Gades Funeral Homes to be given a proper burial and inform their families of their plight.
One of the two arrested NPA members has been taken to the Bacuag police to face charges. Another with injuries was immediately taken to Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro.
Last week, some residents of Barangay Hitapi-an in Catubig town, Northern Samar, fled on Saturday for fear of being caught in a clash between the military and communist rebels.
Most of those most affected are the residents of Sitio San Jose Hibubullao.
According to Catubig town resident Jamil Borja Rebay, the residents there are scared because of the encounter between the soldiers and the New People’s Army.
The Catubig Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office staff took some affected residents to the evacuation center, while others chose to go to relatives’ homes.
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