Reds car-nap trucks anew, fail again in attack against troops in Davao
Region
Camp Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City, July 01, 2010 - Local terrorists
failed in an evening attack against troops on peace efforts holding
temporary patrol base in the village of Cambagang in Maragusan town in
Compostela Valley province 9:15 PM Wednesday.
About 50 armed New People's Army (NPA) belonging to Local Terrorist
Front-27 of the Southern Mindanao Region onboard two car-napped Sadam
trucks attacked the temporary Patrol base of one squad of the 66th
Infantry Battalion (66IB) but failed and fled after a 30-minute
firefight.
A civilian passerby identified as Nanetes Niengo, 23 years old, was
wounded by NPA fires during the course of the gunbattle and was rushed
to the regional hospital in Tagum City by soldiers and village
officials.
Government troops suffered two slightly wounded during the exchange of
fire indentified as Sgt Reglyn Locario and Pfc Jimmy Galiza who are now
recuperating in the hospital. One of the trucks was recovered by the
troops together with spent shells of ammunitions used by the terrorists
several kilometers away.
"The terrorists surely suffered many casualties as they were forced to
retreat despite their big number as compared to the squad in the
temporary patrol base. One of their leaders might be one of the
casualties as one Icom radio was left behind by them. Radios are
normally used by their leaders." said Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of
66IB.
Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of 10th Infantry Division deplored
the repeated use of "treachery by the NPAs in carrying out their
terroristic acts against the people by car-napping vehicles and coercing
civilians to drive them during their attacks like the previous cases in
this region which are violations of laws and put the lives of
non-combatants in danger." Holganza also said, "NPAs disregarded the
safety of civilians as they conducted the attack even if civilians were
clearly present during that time."
Last month, NPAs belonging to Local Terrorist Front-20 attacked a police
detachment in Cateel town in nearby Davao Oriental province but instead
suffered five dead. Local Terrorist Front-18 also attacked a road
project in Banay-banay town still in Davao Oriental. In both instances,
the terrorists used two car-napped trucks and forced civilians to drive
the vehicles during the attack.
Last February, 13 year old Memilyn Moreno was killed by the NPA in their
attack against a road project in Boston town still in Davao oriental
while December last year, 55 year old Rosalinda Clata was killed by NPAs
in an attack against the same road project in Boston. The attacks were
carried out after Sebastian Construction Company refused to give
extortion money to the NPA.
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