Military looks into possible lapses leading to Agusan del Sur NPA attack

DAVAO CITY — The military is looking into a possible security breach leading to the attack of the New People’s Army (NPA) on a militia patrol base in Sibagat town, Agusan del Sur on Wednesday that resulted in the abduction of several soldiers and militiamen, a regional military spokesperson said.

Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) spokesperson, said the Army’s 4th Infantry Division had constituted a board of inquiry to look into the incident, including possible security lapses on the part of the government troops taken hostage by the NPA.

It was not immediately known how many troops were at the militia outpost in New Tubigon village when it was overrun by some 50 NPA guerrillas at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Balagtey said.

The NPA in Northern Mindanao, through its spokesperson Sandara Amihan told a local radio station that the rebel group had captured two soldiers and 12 militiamen and seized over a dozen rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

“The raid happened during the wee hours of the morning (and) as to how it happened, it will be part of the inquiry,” Balagtey told the Inquirer by mobile phone. /ee