Press Statement
10 May 2012
NPA attacks vs AFP operations in Agusan-Comval boundary yields 9 enemy casualties
The 6th Scout Rangers company under the 2nd Scout Rangers Battalion and 102nd DRC obtained nine casualties May 7 in the boundaries of Trento town, Agusan del Sur and Monkayo town, Compostela Valley, as Red fighters under the Conrado Heredia Command (CHC)-Guerilla Front 20 Operations Command of the New People’s Army foiled its clearing operations intended to precede large-scale mining operations in the area.
The Red fighters stymied one column of the enemy forces at 9am in an ambush at boundary, Purok 14, Barangay Pasian Monkayo and Upper New Visayas, Trento town. Three soldiers were killed, four were wounded, including the company commanding officer, Lt. Masumpad.
While effectively scuttling the military operations, no fatalities were obtained by Red fighters, except for three who were injured.
Three hours later, at 12 in the afternoon, the Red fighters thwarted the enemy, this time, the 102nd DRC (Division Reconnaissance Company) at Bahayan river, Trento. Two enemy forces were wounded, including Capt. Braganza, the DRC commanding officer. The enemy injured and captured a civilian, 16-year old Jhon Mark Malimbasao, now detained at a hospital in Cagayan de Oro.
Frustrated with the successful NPA counter attack, the AFP readily sent out its war airplanes and dropped seven bombs in Trento town, instantly dislocating 80 peasant families.
To cover up their losses and justify the rampant abuses committed in the course of its operations, the AFP downplayed its casualties and referred to the troops as peace and development teams from the 25th Infantry Battalion.
In truth, the military’s clearing operations were intended to facilitate the smooth entry of Yinyi Phil Investment Holding Group Inc., a mining firm set to operate the Pasian gold ore project in Barangay Pasian, in Monkayo town.
To the consternation of the masses, the AFP has escalated its military offensives cloaked in peace and development operations under Oplan Bayanihan. The NPA will continue to thwart these hostile military operations that fortify enterprises involved in the plundering, land grabbing and environmentally-destructive foreign large-scale mining operations in Compostela Valley and Agusan boundaries.
(Sgd) Ka Roel Agustin II
Spokesperson
Conrado Heredia Command
New People’s Army-Southern Mindanao
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