11 NPAs killed in Davao, Samar attacks

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven suspected communist rebels were believed killed while six government security forces, including a civilian were wounded in two separate bloody attacks on Sunday staged by the New People’s Army rebels in Samar and Davao.

Lt. Col. Armand Rico, spokesman of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan, Samar said that a 50-man NPA force suffered heavy casualties when they attacked and tried to overrun an Army detachment at Barangay Cancaiyas, Basey town before dawn Sunday.

“Despite being overwhelmed and outnumbered by the enemy, our troops occupied alternate positions that resulted to the wounding of two of our militiamen and a civilian resident,” Rico said.

As per witnesses’ account, Rico said the attacking rebel force suffered 11 killed or wounded in more than one hour of fighting.

Over in Calinan District, Davao City, another 50-man NPA band attacked a platoon of patrolling soldiers while in Malibato creek, Barangay Dalagdag also on Sunday afternoon.

The fighting that lasted for almost two hours resulted to the wounding in landmine explosion of S/Sgt. Sedrix Distor, Cpl. Jonas Samortin and Pfc. Germaine Gargoles, all of Bravo Company, 69th Infantry Battalion. – Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado