13 NPA Rebels Dead in Series of Atrocities in Agusan del Sur

Thirteen New People’s Army (NPA) rebels died in a series of encounters with government troops in  Agusan del Sur early this morning.

The rebels, clad in fake military uniform, scampered toward different directions and left behind their dead comrades and several high powered firearms such as AK-47, M16, M14, and M203 rifles.

At around 6:10 a.m. today, an undetermined number of NPA rebels conducted a roadblock along the national highway in the vicinity of Barangay San Salvador in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

According to sources, the rebels flagged down all vehicles passing along the highway from Bayugan City and Prosperidad. Then, at about 6:25 a.m., a reaction force from the 41st Division Reconnaissance Company, augmented with elements of 401st Infantry Brigade, responded and encountered the rebel group.

Also at 6:00 a.m. today, another firefight broke out when approximately 70 fully armed NPA rebels attacked the group of Datu Calpit, a reported Anti-Communist Tribal Forces leader, in Barangay, Sta. Irene also in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Calpito Egua alias Datu Calpit owns a mining venture in Sitio Manulayan, Barangay Bolhoon in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. He reportedly maintains his own security force and is a long target of the NPA rebels.

Meanwhile, another group of NPA rebels established a checkpoint/ roadblock along the national highway in the vicinity of Barangay San Salvador and Sta. Irene, both in Prosperidad, and in Barangay Hamogaway and Sta. Teresita, 1 km away from South Davao Development Company (SUDACO), in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. A suspected NPA spotter was held for questioning by responding elements of the Philippine National Police and the 401st Infantry Brigade.