Wounded NPA abandoned by comrades, captured by soldiers

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

KIDAPAWAN CITY – A wounded communist rebel was captured by soldier after his comrades left him behind following a clash in Makilala, North Cotabato, on Saturday.

Captain Silver Belvis, 39th Infantry Battalion spokesperson, said Randy Indo, 42, of Barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, was turned over by residents to soldiers.

Government forces recovered an M-16 assault rifle and four improvised landmines after the 6 a.m. encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Barangay Batasan, a rebel-infiltrated village.

According to Belvis, residents of Barangay Batasan reported the presence of armed men in their community Saturday morning.

Soldiers were sent to verify the report but were met by gunfire from members of the NPA Guerilla Front 51, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee under Commander Makoy.

A brief firefight ensued which prompted the rebels to flee into the forest.

Apart from the weapons, the rebels left behind medical paraphernalia, 20 backpacks, subversive documents and four NPA flags, Belvis said.

At about 2:20 p.m., soldiers found Indo in the company of residents who turned him over to government forces, who brought him to the North Cotabato provincial hospital for treatment. /cbb