CAMP GEN. MATEO CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal –– Troops belonging to the 76th Infantry Battalion (76IB) clashed anew with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Ranao, Barangay Barahan in Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro on Wednesday.
In a report reaching this camp on Thursday, Lt. Col. Mario Lito I. Retirva, Commanding Officer of 76IB, said army troopers engaged the NPA in combat operations following reports by concerned citizens that the terrorists were roaming around the sitio Tuesday night, extorting food stuffs from the Indigenous People (IP).
As the troops scoured the area, they encountered around 20 armed men, prompting them to close in for a firefight that lasted for about 15 minutes.
A soldier got wounded but is now in stable condition after medical evacuation.
However, an undetermined number of casualties were reported on the enemies’ side based on the traces of bloodstains in the encounter site. The rebels fled bringing along their wounded comrades.
Retirva added the rebels who figured in this latest encounter were believed to be members of Platoon “FALCON”, Sub-Regional Military Area 4-B, Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee, who were conducting their force recruitment among the Mangyan cultural community.
“They were also the same group encountered by our soldiers in Sta. Cruz (Mindoro) last June 29, 2018 where firearms, improvised explosive devices and subversive documents were recovered,” he added.
Meanwhile, Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division (2ID) Commander Maj. Gen. Rhoderick M. Parayno said the troops would pursue the retreating enemies until they are totally destroyed.
“We will run them down and tear them. They are now tired, exhausted, and running out of ammunition since their previous clashed against the troops,” he said.
Parayno added that the 2ID would be relentless in conducting combat operations to guard the people of Mindoro, especially the IP communities against all NPA threats and abuses.
Government troops have sustained massive pursuit operations against the terrorists and intensified checkpoints in the area. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
