6 rebels killed, 1 soldier hurt in follow-up clash
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 16:13:00 05/20/2009
Filed Under: Guerrilla activities, Armed conflict
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Around 50 suspected New People's Army rebels raided a detachment of the Citizen's Armed Forces Geographical Unit or CAFGU in the village of Lubigan, Sipocot town in Camarines Sur, at around 2 a.m. Tuesday, reports reaching Camp Gen. Simeon A. Ola here Wednesday morning, showed.
A two-hour firefight ensued between government troopers and the rebels, said Lieutenant Colonel Neneveigh L. Alcovindas, spokesman of the 9th Infantry Division.
Reinforcing government troops, however, were hampered by a landmine blast in the subvillage of Mactan, in Lubigan.
Investigation showed extensive damage during the CAFGU detachment attack that involved the burning of 17 bunkers, one Kenwood Radio equipment, a Geo-Positioning System (GPS) and nine units of M-14 rifles.
In a statement, the Army condemned the use of landmine in the attack in Sipocot as "a gross manifestation of the NPA's wanton disrespect of International Humanitarian Law."
He added that in the hot pursuit operations against the rebels who fled to Cawayan village in Libmanan town, Camarines Sur, a five-minute encounter ensued at around 11 a.m.
Killed in the clash were six rebels while a soldier identified as Private First Class Melchor B. Escano was wounded, said Alcovindas.
He did not immediately identify the slain rebels.
Recovered were an M16 rifle and a US carbine.
Hours after the attack on the CAFGU detachment, human rights group Karapatan reported the abduction of five civilians allegedly by Army troops operating in the Libmanan-Sipocot area.
John Concepcion, Karapatan spokesperson, identified the civilians as Michael Mayores, Ryan Andes, Alfredo Lopez, Henry Lopez and Emil Luzon—all members of the Camarines Sur People's Organization.
He said the five were taken from Calabnigan village in Libmanan town and from the neighboring Lubigan village in Sipocot town at around 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Concepcion appealed to Army officials to release the five civilians if they had no legal reason to hold them in detention.
Reports filed by Rey Nasol, Juan Escandor Jr., and Johana Vi Gasga, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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