1 dead, 3 wounded among gov’t soldiers in clash with NPA in Agusan del Sur

MANILA, Philippines – One soldier was killed while three others were wounded in a clash with New People’s Army rebels in Agusan del Sur Thursday, the military said.

The clash, which began at 11 am Thursday after troops from the 5^th Scout Ranger Company over-ran an NPA camp in Sitio (sub-village) Simontana, Barangay (village) Calabuan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, said Armed Forces of the Philippine spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

No casualties on the rebels’ side were reported, Burgos said. He added pursuit operations are still ongoing.

The over-ran rebel camp was the regional camp of the NPA in North Central Mindanao and was operated by rebels under George Madlos, the NPA leader who owned up to the attack on three mining firms in Claver town, Surigao del Norte on Monday, Burgos said.

The military also recovered several high powered firearms including four AK-47 rifles, four M14 rifles, three m16 rifles and one Ultimax machine gun, Burgos said.

“This is part of the ongoing pursuit operations for the NPA rebels who attacked the three mining firms,” Burgos said.

Earlier, AFP Chief General Eduardo Oban ordered the relief of 402nd brigade commander Colonel Rodrigo Diapana and his deputy Colonel Cresente Maligmat pending investigations for operational oversight.