Soldiers clash w/ rebels twice
ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Soldiers and rebels have engaged in two successive armed encounters, first at the city’s remote Brgy. Liberty last Monday and then in neighboring Brgy. Gaas on Tuesday.
According to Col. Joel Nacnac, commander of the 19th Infantry Battalion based in Kananga, Leyte, his men on Monday were patrolling the area in Liberty after receiving reports from civilians about “sightings†of armed men there. This resulted in a gunbattle against at least five armed men, resulting in the slight wounding of a certain PFC Raagas.
The next day, Tuesday, another clash took place at the forests of Gaas, this time against a bigger group of around 20 rebels, some of whom were wounded and possibly dead.
The soldiers however found no dead bodies from the rebel side, but the NPA rebels have been known to take with them as they escape their wounded comrades, or bury their dead in shallow graves to hide from the military the actual damage from their ranks.
Nacnac said his men have continued their hot pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels at the mountains of this city.
He added that an investigation will be conducted to determine if there was a connection between the encounters and three men arrested at a checkpoint last Monday for carrying in their car an arsenal of high-powered firearms.
One of those arrested was Mauro Dañas, a resident of Brgy. Liberty and the younger brother of Danilo Dañas who was once in “Ormoc’s most wanted list†and later reported to have joined the rebel movement. (FREEMAN)
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