2 Soldiers Injured, 2 Communist Rebels Captured in clashes

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City--- Two soldiers were injured while two NPA bandits were captured in separate clashes in Mindanao and Samar yesterday (March 05, 2012).

The first clash occurred in Paranas village, Western Samar at around 5:50am, between the soldiers of the 87th Infantry Battalion led by Lt Col Cerilo Balaoro and more or less 20 communist rebels who occupied an encampment in the said village.

Balaoro said that he sent a platoon of his soldiers after receiving 'hot information' from concerned residents.

The soldiers engaged the rebels in an intense firefight which lasted around 20 minutes after which the rebels fled in disarray with their casualties, leaving behind two of their comrades who were cornered by the soldiers.

One of the soldiers was wounded in his thigh during the firefight. He was given immediate treatment by the Army's combat medics before he was transported to a local hospital for additional  medical attention.

The soldiers confiscated a Cal 5.56mm M16 Rifle, a recoilless rifle (bazooka), several improvised bombs and a machine used in manufacturing improvised bombs.

The soldiers brought the captured rebels to their battalion headquarters for custodial debriefing. Local authorities were also informed regarding the captured rebels.

In Agusan del Norte, a clash erupted in an upland village of Bangayan, Jabonga town at around 7:40am.

The elite troopers of the 5th Scout Ranger Company were conducting security patrols in the area when they were fired upon by at least 50 heavily armed NPA rebels, triggering a heavy exchange of fires.

The rebels scampered to different directions after about 20 minutes, leaving behind a dead comrade with his AK 47 Rifle.

One soldier sustained minor injuries and he was immediately evacuated to a local hospital for treatment. The unidentified rebel was brought to the village officials for identification.

Major Harold Cabunoc, the Army Spokesperson, said that the Army will continue to perform its mandate of protecting the communities from the any armed group which threatens the peace and development programs of the government.

"We will never abandon our job of securing the villages and the interests of the government that will benefit the people. We would also like to tell the rebels that soldiers are not rejoicing over the death of fellow Filipinos. We would like the rebels to lay down their arms and cooperate with the government in its effort to solve the insurgency problem through peaceful means," said Cabunoc.