BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor
BUTUAN CITY—The more than an hour firefight between patrolling government troopers and communist rebels on Saturday in Sitio Mansanitas, Barangay Tabon, Loreto, Agusan del Sur have left many wounded in the government troopers side, the New People’s Army report claimed.
But police and military reports claimed otherwise.
Belated report reaching Caraga Police Information Office here claimed that the encounter occurred after patrolling soldiers belonging to the 7th Special Force Operating team headed by Lt. Leonardo Gale which composed of four teams encountered the group of the New People’s Army Front Committee 34 headed by certain Kumander Michael of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SRMC).
The communist rebels according to the report fled towards the direction of the mountainous area of the Compostela Valley Province which is adjacent to Loreto town and where the boundary of the two provinces, Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley is located.
Responding government troopers recovered in the crime scene an ammunition rifle grenade, one 9 mm pistol and seven pack bags containing personal belongings.
The report also claimed they are still identifying wounded victims.
Earlier, report from the intelligence community claimed communist rebels from Caraga Region and Compostela Valley do exchange utilization of troops making the huge mountainous areas of the two huge Mindanao provinces as their home and training grounds criss-crossing in those areas.
Earlier, Agusan del Sur Vice Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. admitted before the presence of Sec. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. , Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process that illegal loggers including illegal miners are providing arms and ammunitions to the rebels.
The Philippine Government is launching unified efforts for lasting peace and development in Mindanao.
Contributing editor
BUTUAN CITY—The more than an hour firefight between patrolling government troopers and communist rebels on Saturday in Sitio Mansanitas, Barangay Tabon, Loreto, Agusan del Sur have left many wounded in the government troopers side, the New People’s Army report claimed.
But police and military reports claimed otherwise.
Belated report reaching Caraga Police Information Office here claimed that the encounter occurred after patrolling soldiers belonging to the 7th Special Force Operating team headed by Lt. Leonardo Gale which composed of four teams encountered the group of the New People’s Army Front Committee 34 headed by certain Kumander Michael of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SRMC).
The communist rebels according to the report fled towards the direction of the mountainous area of the Compostela Valley Province which is adjacent to Loreto town and where the boundary of the two provinces, Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley is located.
Responding government troopers recovered in the crime scene an ammunition rifle grenade, one 9 mm pistol and seven pack bags containing personal belongings.
The report also claimed they are still identifying wounded victims.
Earlier, report from the intelligence community claimed communist rebels from Caraga Region and Compostela Valley do exchange utilization of troops making the huge mountainous areas of the two huge Mindanao provinces as their home and training grounds criss-crossing in those areas.
Earlier, Agusan del Sur Vice Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. admitted before the presence of Sec. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. , Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process that illegal loggers including illegal miners are providing arms and ammunitions to the rebels.
The Philippine Government is launching unified efforts for lasting peace and development in Mindanao.