CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines —-Police arrested on Thursday two New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas following a clash in Valencia City, Bukidnon.
Supt. Surki Sereñes, Valencia City police chief, said the two suspects, identified as Frederic Tagurda alias “Rek-rek” and Pedeng Matikinon alias “Santo,” were wounded after the clash in Purok 12, Barangay (village) Tongan-Tongan Thursday afternoon.
The two were rushed to a local hospital for treatment and doctors later advised police can place them under custody as they only suffered minor wounds, Sereñes added.
He said Tagurda and Matikinon reportedly belonged to the NPA’s “Thunder” group that operates in parts of Bukidnon.
Sereñes disclosed that the police operation was triggered by a civilian tip about four communist rebels on two motorcycles sighted in Tongan-Tongan.
Supported by Army soldiers, police personnel were then deployed to the village but were met by gunfire from the suspects.
Sereñes said the two ran and hid in a nearby rice mill while their two other companions managed to escape.
Police officers and soldiers then stormed the rice mill, leading to the arrest of the two suspects, Sereñes said.
Seized from the rebels were two caliber .45 pistols with 13 bullets, a fragmentation grenade, four blasting caps, subversive documents, and a motorcycle.