Soldier wounded, firearms recovered in 3 encounters
By Shiena M. Barrameda
NAGA CITY --- Two separate encounters in the provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate left one soldier wounded, leading to the recovery of several high-powered firearms within the period of two days last week while another one took place Tuesday this week.
Major Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the 9th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army (PA), confirmed that soldiers under the 49th Infantry Battalion led by 2Lt. Gildan Soberio encountered seven fully-armed members of the New People’s Army while patrolling at around 2:40 p.m. last June 30 in Barangay San Ramon, Barcelona, Sorsogon.
The firefight lasted for about 15 minutes and resulted to the recovery of one improvised explosive device, two triggering devices and two sets of electrical wires (250 meters long) supposedly used in making improvised explosives, Lt. Alfie Lee, civil military operations officer of 49th IB, under the 9th Infantry Brigade in Juban, Sorsogon reported.
Four small batteries, one jungle hammock, a cellphone and other personal belongings were also recovered at the scene of the clash after the rebels fled and wounded Pfc. Ariel Matutina on his left arm.
On July 1, Friday, at around 5:20 a.m., troops from the 9th IB conducted strike operations at Sitio Kiro, Barangay Intusan, Palanas, Masbate after receiving reports from local residents that the NPA rebels belonging to Front Committee 83 of the Gemo Unit were conducting extortion activities in the area, Guzman said.
He added the rebels, withdrawing from the clash, left behind one M16 rifle and a M653 rifle, otherwise known as Baby Armalite. No casualty was reported on both sides.
Last Tuesday, July 5, more high-powered long firearms and a homemade landmine were recovered in another encounter with the rebels, also in Sorsogon, the Philippine Army reported.
Major Guzman said the Army troopers encountered in a 20-minute firefight more or less ten members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at around 6 a.m. of that day in Barangay Palale, Bulan, Sorsogon.
After the clash, soldiers recovered an M16 rifle with one M14, one M653, one AK47 and a landmine. Seven backpacks containing personal belongings were also found around the woody area of the village, Guzman said.
Guzman said that reports from residents confirmed that blood stains were spotted on the clash site and along the trail of the rebels’ escape which could mean that the enemies dragged their wounded comrades as they fled.
Col. Felix Castro, commanding officer of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, deployed additional troops to launch pursuit operation against the rebels.
Meanwhile, Karapatan-Bicol in Sorsogon reported to Bicol Mail that one Rosabelle Calayo, her children Mark J. Mangampo, 2 years old, Mark Anthony C. Mangampo, one year old, and Ricky Calayo, 23, her nephew where allegedly picked up by elements of the 49th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army at around 9:30 a.m. of July 5 following an armed encounter within the area.
Rosabelle has called on the authorities to spare her family because they were civilians and had nothing to do with the armed conflict.
In another related development, a farmer, Guillermo Godalle of Bgy. Palale in Gubat, Sorsogon was also picked up by the troopers at around 7:00 a.m. of July 5, reportedly for interrogation following the encounter in the said town.
Karapatan-Bikol is asking the combatants to respect the UN provisions on the safety, security and the rights of civilians during armed encounters or military operations.
Major Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the 9th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army (PA), confirmed that soldiers under the 49th Infantry Battalion led by 2Lt. Gildan Soberio encountered seven fully-armed members of the New People’s Army while patrolling at around 2:40 p.m. last June 30 in Barangay San Ramon, Barcelona, Sorsogon.
The firefight lasted for about 15 minutes and resulted to the recovery of one improvised explosive device, two triggering devices and two sets of electrical wires (250 meters long) supposedly used in making improvised explosives, Lt. Alfie Lee, civil military operations officer of 49th IB, under the 9th Infantry Brigade in Juban, Sorsogon reported.
Four small batteries, one jungle hammock, a cellphone and other personal belongings were also recovered at the scene of the clash after the rebels fled and wounded Pfc. Ariel Matutina on his left arm.
On July 1, Friday, at around 5:20 a.m., troops from the 9th IB conducted strike operations at Sitio Kiro, Barangay Intusan, Palanas, Masbate after receiving reports from local residents that the NPA rebels belonging to Front Committee 83 of the Gemo Unit were conducting extortion activities in the area, Guzman said.
He added the rebels, withdrawing from the clash, left behind one M16 rifle and a M653 rifle, otherwise known as Baby Armalite. No casualty was reported on both sides.
Last Tuesday, July 5, more high-powered long firearms and a homemade landmine were recovered in another encounter with the rebels, also in Sorsogon, the Philippine Army reported.
Major Guzman said the Army troopers encountered in a 20-minute firefight more or less ten members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at around 6 a.m. of that day in Barangay Palale, Bulan, Sorsogon.
After the clash, soldiers recovered an M16 rifle with one M14, one M653, one AK47 and a landmine. Seven backpacks containing personal belongings were also found around the woody area of the village, Guzman said.
Guzman said that reports from residents confirmed that blood stains were spotted on the clash site and along the trail of the rebels’ escape which could mean that the enemies dragged their wounded comrades as they fled.
Col. Felix Castro, commanding officer of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, deployed additional troops to launch pursuit operation against the rebels.
Meanwhile, Karapatan-Bicol in Sorsogon reported to Bicol Mail that one Rosabelle Calayo, her children Mark J. Mangampo, 2 years old, Mark Anthony C. Mangampo, one year old, and Ricky Calayo, 23, her nephew where allegedly picked up by elements of the 49th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army at around 9:30 a.m. of July 5 following an armed encounter within the area.
Rosabelle has called on the authorities to spare her family because they were civilians and had nothing to do with the armed conflict.
In another related development, a farmer, Guillermo Godalle of Bgy. Palale in Gubat, Sorsogon was also picked up by the troopers at around 7:00 a.m. of July 5, reportedly for interrogation following the encounter in the said town.
Karapatan-Bikol is asking the combatants to respect the UN provisions on the safety, security and the rights of civilians during armed encounters or military operations.
Everyone has the right to live, right to speak for himself, right to remain silent, right to do the things he/she want to do as long as he/she is not violating others’ rights, right not to do anything, BUT no one has the right to kill.
The encounter between the Philippine Army and the New People’s Army seems to violate each other’s right to live. They both wanted to kill each other and then what? Is this really the only way to have a peaceful life, killing each other? A peaceful world to live in? When they keep on throwing bombs with each other? Aren’t they making earth a more complicated place to breathe? Is this the new meaning of making PEACE? I don’t think so.
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