FOUR SOLDIERS AND TWO REBELS WERE KILLED, 12 OTHER SOLDIERS HURT, THREE ALG CAPTURED on a separate encounters in Compostela Valley.
Rest In Peace to our fallen Heroes!
CGMTY, MAWAB, COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE – Soldiers from 25th Infantry Battalion and 71st Infantry Battalion engaged in series of armed encounters members of communist armed lawless group (ALG) on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, August 4 and 5, 2016 in Monkayo and Maragusan, Compostela Valley Province. Four soldiers were killed and twelve other soldiers were wounded while two dead and three ALG members were left behind and recovered or captured by government troops.
The first incident happened around 1:30 p.m., August 4, when troops of 25IB engaged in a 15-minute firefight the ALG at Km 56, Brgy Rizal, Monkayo, CVP. Two soldiers were wounded on the said incident and were immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital on the same day. The troops of 25IB conducted pursuit operations against the fleeing ALG members who were believed to have suffered several casualties.
The pursuing troops of 25IB engaged in another 45-minute firefight the fleeing ALG around 7:50 a.m., August 5. Around 60 ALG members attacked the outnumbered troops utilizing IED and high-powered firearms. Three soldiers were killed in action (KIA) while ten other soldiers were wounded and immediately airlifted to Camp Panacan Station Hospital. The ALG carted away the rifles and personal belongings of the three dead soldiers. Meanwhile, a dead body of an unidentified female ALG member left behind by her fleeing comrades was recovered by the pursuing soldiers and three others were apprehended, among them a wounded NPA who was given first aid by the troops in the area. The apprehended ALG members were turned-over to the PNP for proper disposition and subsequent filing of charges.
On a separate incident at Brgy Parasanon, Maragusan at around 1 p.m., August 5, troops of 71st Infantry Battalion engaged in a firefight around 30 ALG members at Purok 5 of the said barangay. One soldier was killed while the fleeing ALG members were believed to have suffered several casualties and even left behind the dead body of an unidentified ALG, one carbine rifle, one IED and several personal belongings.
The 1001st Infantry Brigade, which has operational control over 25IB and 71IB ordered the conduct of pursuit operations against the fleeing ALG.
MGen Rafael Valencia, 10ID commander expressed his grief on the deaths and the injuries of the soldiers and ordered the pursuit of the fleeing ALGs. “It is time for us to stop these senseless violence, all those who died and got wounded in these incidents are all Filipinos,” added MGen Valencia. He further added that while the AFP joins the Filipino people cry for peace for our country, the soldiers will not hesitate to use legitimate force to protect the communities and the people from any armed group who terrorizes them.
source: 10th Infantry Agila Division Philippine Army