DAVAO CITY – Two separate encounters between government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) here on Monday, April 18, resulted into three casualties, the military said.
The first encounter occurred at 8:00 in the morning on the same day, followed by another at 12:25 noon, said the military. Killed from the government side were a soldier and a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit. An NPA member was also killed, the Army said.
The fighting broke at Sitio Banban, Barangay Lumiad, Paquibato District, this city.
Also, two other soldiers were wounded during the fighting between the NPA, and have been airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital.
In a news published by Mindanao Times, the soldier and the militiaman were identified as Private First Class Jaylord Vicente and Edward Sapuez, respectively. Meanwhile, the wounded soldiers were identified as Corporal Wilmar Pacina and Cpl. Ronel Fanuga.
The military claims that the NPA troops are responsible for the attack in Sitio Quiman-ao, Barangay Salapawan CAA detachment on Saturday, April 16, where the NPA’s 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion seized 18 firearms.
On the same day, the NPA has also captured five police officers, including a police chief in Barangay Salapawan, Paquibato.
The NPA also seized two 9 mm pistols and a .45 caliber pistol from the police.(davaotoday.com)