Soldier hurt in clash with NPA

ILIGAN CITY –– A soldier was wounded in an encounter with a group of armed men, believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA), on Thursday, July 25, in Barangay Rogongon here.

Colonel Alex Aduca, deputy commander of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, identified the wounded soldier as Sergeant Marvin Belen, team leader of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the 51st Infantry Battalion.

The Army troops were undertaking civil-military activities in Sitio Duwa-duwa at past 8 a.m. Thursday when the encounter happened. Belen was hit on his right foot.

Nearby government forces were immediately deployed to the area to help pursue the armed men.

The CSP team is sent to areas where residents “are being influenced and exploited by the NPA,” according to Aduca.

“They (NPA) are recruiting and hiding in the area. Some are even operating like they extort the residents. Our troops are there to counter the rebellious activities,” Aduca said.

There have been reports about NPA recruitment activities in hinterland Rogongon and its neighboring villages where social services are nil.

Duwa-duwa is four hours away on foot from the barangay’s main road. /lzb