DAVAO CITY – Two days before the resumption of the formal talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, four members of the New People’s Army were killed after a military offensive on August 20 in San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
Allan Juanito, spokesperson of the NPAs, said a unit of the NPA-Western Agusan del Norte-Agusan del Sur Subregional Command were conducting “classroom activity” at around 8:30 am on August 20 in Sitio Kihinggay, Barangay San Pedro when they were raided by soldiers from the 26th Infantry Battalion.
He identified the four guerilla fighters as Winston “Ka Jerom” Mondejar, Henry “Ka James” Mansuconan, Jomar “Ka Alay” Tawide and Abel “Ka Gabriel” Oliver. He said one Red fighter was also wounded during the firefight.
“Even though fatally shot, Ka Gabriel, before his last breath, was able to heroically switch the command-detonated explosive chanced upon the flanked troops. According to civilian witnesses, more than ten casualties were suffered by 26th IB troopers,” Juanito added.
The Army’s statement said that the clash broke when the rebels fired at the government troops who were responding to reports of “rebel extortion” in the area. The Army also said that no one was reported killed or injured in the side of the military.
Juanito also said that the families of the NPA fighters “have seen indications of desecration of the bodies before they were sent to the morgue.”
The Army seized three AK47 and two M16 rifles, two ICOM radios, 20 bag packs and rebel documents. (davaotoday.com)
