By Rhaydz B. Barcia
LEGAZPI CITY, July 16 (PNA) — “Our soldiers were conducting Bayanihan activities when attacked by 10 armed men at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday by members of the Sparu of the New People’s Army,” said Captain Marjorie Panesa, regional spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, claimed.
Three members of the communist group were killed in the resulting broad daylight encounter with the Philippine Army troops in Barangay Bacolod, Irosin Sorsogon on Thursday.
Panesa said the three rebels were members of the so-called Special Partisan Unit (Sparu) of the communist guerrillas operating in Sorsogon province under the Larangan 2 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.
The Army soldiers under the 31st Infantry Battalion and headed by Capt. Rory Esico and Capt. Jay Dumaog were conducting house-to-house dialogues when they encountered the communist dissidents, the Army spokesperson said.
The firefight lasted for 15 minutes before the communist insurgents fled in different directions.
After the fierce fight, the three rebels were found dead and the government troops recovered three .45-caliber pistols and one grenade in the battle field.
Two soldiers wounded in action and were identified as Army Corporal Alfredo Durana and Private First Class Joey Turado.
Meanwhile, in Masbate province, a soldier was gunned down in San Jacinto, Ticao Island at about 9 a.m. by communist insurgents under the Larangan North, formerly known as Front Committee 83 Central, BRPC, Masbate.
According to Panesa, the soldier of Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion was shot to death by three Sparu members while on his way from Bagacay port to mainland Masbate to send money to his family.
The rebels withdrew using two motorized bancas after the killing, she said.
A squad of government troopers immediately proceeded to the area but a landmine planted by the insurgents alone the route exploded.
No casualty was reported after the explosion.
Army Col. Cesar M. Idio, commander of the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade, condemned the rebels action for violation of the International Humanitarian Law for using landmine.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of our soldiers and the NPAs killed. It is tragic that the NPAs who were killed had taken arms against the Filipino nation when the Sorsoganons understand that only through peace can development and social justice be attained. We condemn the NPA’s use of landmine, because it is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law,” Idio lamented. (PNA)