MANILA, July 19 — Only four Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel were wounded in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Arakan town, North Cotabato Wednesday morning.
This was bared by PSG spokesperson Lt. Col. Mike Aquino in an interview.
He added that the seven earlier reported wounded in the 6:15 a.m. clash was based on their initial report.
The incident took place at Barangay Gambudes along the Davao-Arakan route.
Subsequent accounting and checking of personnel involved in the Arakan clash with an estimated 50 NPA fighters, allegedly conducting checkpoint operations in the vicinity, indicated that only four PSG troops were wounded, Aquino stressed.
He also clarified that Wednesday’s incident was not an NPA ambush as it was their personnel who fired first at the suspicious-looking band who were clad in military uniforms.
However, Aquino has no information on whether they inflicted any casualties on the rebels.
The PSG spokesperson also said that PSG personnel, aboard in two vehicles, were conducting an “admin movement” as part of the efforts to coordinate with other security personnel in the Cagayan De Oro area.
The engaged PSG troops just came from Davao, he added.
Aquino also declined to comment on whether the incident was part of the NPA’s effort to taunt President Rodrigo Duterte before his State of the Nation Address on July 24. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
