MAKILALA, North Cotabato — Government troops here captured a seriously injured member of the New People’s Army (NPA) following a firefight in a hinterland village, the Philippine Army here said Sunday.
Elements of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) rushed Randy Indo, 42, resident of Barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, to a hospital after he was abandoned by his fleeing companions in Sitio Lukatong, Barangay Biangan, also in Makilala.
Indo, who sustained multiple bullet wounds in the body, was turned over by local residents to pursuing government forces on Saturday evening.
39th IB spokesperson Capt. Silver Belvis said the soldiers were responding to reports by civilians about the presence of more than 30 NPA brigands under Guerilla Front 51 in Barangay Batasan when fired upon.
The incident sparked an hour-long clash that resulted in the wounding of two soldiers and five rebels.
Military intelligence sources identified the NPA leader as Commander Mckoy, whose group operates in adjoining Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.
While fighting was raging, the rebels fled deep into the forest of Barangay Batasan, carrying their injured comrades.
Soldiers recovered one M16 rifle, four improvised landmines, medical paraphernalia, 20 backpacks, subversive documents, and four NPA flags left by the fleeing rebels.
Another team of soldiers, meanwhile, rushed Indo to the North Cotabato Provincial Hospital for treatment.
“This is proof we obey international humanitarian laws on injured enemies of state…we saved him because he was incapacitated,” Belvis told reporters.
Lt. Colonel Harold Argamosa, the Army’s 39th IB chief, said his unit would continue calibrated operations against those who are terrorizing remote villages.
He appealed to the communists though, that it is never too late to surrender.
“Those who are hurt don’t listen to the communist propaganda that the soldiers would hurt you, that is a lie, we will help you for we are all Filipinos,” Argamosa said.
Belvis also appealed to civilians, called the “masa” in remote communities, to cease supporting communist rebels and report to authorities any NPA presence in their villages. This, after a series of NPA atrocities in North Cotabato.
On Oct. 3, suspected NPA rebels executed village councilman Valeriano Birondo of Barangay Mahongkog in Magpet municipality.
Three days later, communist guerillas shot dead Bebs Quino, 35 of Barangay Temporan, also in Magpet.
On Oct. 12, NPA rebels killed Mark Cervania, a mat vendor from Datu Montawal, Maguindanao on suspicion he was an Army informant in Barangay Paco, Kidapawan City. (PNA)
