The military has reported that its soldiers killed three suspected rebels in a clash with government troops in Davao City early Sunday morning.
The 69th Infantry Battalion also recovered an M14 rifle, two unexploded explosive devices and backpacks from the slain suspected members of the New People’s Army.
Commander Lt. Col. Rodney Intal of the Philippine Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion said his men were fired upon by rebels at around 12:05 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Paradise Embac in Paquibato District, Davao City.
(ED: The statement from the military came after the human rights group Karapatan told local media, including the Inquirer Mindanao Bureau, that the three suspected rebels were actually civilians fired upon by the military.)
Intal said his soldiers were in the area after receiving reports from residents that armed men were conducting extortion activities.
After a brief firefight, three rebels lay dead while there were no casualties on the government side.
Residents identified the fatalities as Randy Cornasa (identified as Randy Carnasa by Karapatan) and Ruben Inlog (identified as Ruben Enlog by Karapatan), both residents of the same barangay while the other slain rebel remained unidentified (Karapatan said the third fatality was Enlog’s brother, Ramil).
Intal said his troops were still pursuing the rebels as of Sunday afternoon, as some wounded rebels managed to escape.
“After the incident, we immediately coordinated with the local police for the appropriate investigation and documentation. We are armed with warrants of arrest for these NPA personalities,” the military official said.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Mindanao Command commander, Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, commended the soldiers for immediately acting on the residents’ complaint.
“I encourage those wounded NPA members to come out for medical treatment as our security forces will not stop its pursuit operations,” Baladad said in a statement.
The Eastmincom reported that as of June 14, 38 NPA members have been killed in encounters while the military has recovered 72 high powered firearms this year. SFM
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