By FREDDIE G. LAZARO
CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela – Four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and two soldiers were killed while three other Army troopers, including a junior officer, were wounded in a gun battle at Sitio Landing, Barangay Camandag in Asipulo, Ifugao province, Tuesday morning.
Captain Jefferson Somera, the civil military officer of the Army’s 54th Infantry Batallion, identified one of the four dead rebels as Joel Botingwon, a member of the NPA operating in Ifugao and resident of Sitio Hikot, Barangay Camandag.
Somera identified the killed soldiers as Private First Class (Pfc.) James C. En-ale of Tadian, Mountain Province, and Pfc. Mark Anthony Padtu of Paniqui, Tarlac.
Wounded were First Lieutenant Roland M. Carinan, Pfcs. John Ryl Discaya and Raphy Anongos, all members of the Army’s 54th Infantry Battalion.
Somera said two squads of troopers from the 54th ID were helping in the construction of the road going to Barangay Camandag at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday when they encountered at least 25 heavily armed NPA rebels led by one Kumander Gibeys Busal alias Ka Sayap.
“These NPA remnants are reportedly opposing the construction of the road in the area,” Somera said.
The exchange of gunfire lasted for almost an hour. The rebels later scampered in different directions, dragging their four dead comrades.
“One of the four killed NPA rebels was recovered and positively identified during the clearing operation,” Somera said.
The soldiers also recovered 38 backpacks containing personal belongings, medical paraphernalia, medicines and volumnous subversive documents of the NPA.
He said that hot pursuit operation against the fleeing NPA rebels was ongoing as of yesterday.
Lieutenant Coloner Eddie Pilapil, commander of the 54th IB, extended his sympathies to bereaved families of the fallen soldiers.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of our brothers. They died protecting the Filipino people and in pursuit of peace and development,” Pilapil said.
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