The Philippine Army condemned on Tuesday the brutal killing of a soldier and militiaman in Laak, Compostela Valley.
Major General Rafael Valencia, commander of 10th Infantry Division, lambasted the communists belonging to the New People’s Army Guerrilla Front 3 for ruthlessly killing an unarmed soldier and his militiaman companion.
Corporal Rey Haye and militiaman Bienvenido Detomal, all of 72nd IB, were travelling by motorcycle from their detachment in Barangay L.S. Sarmiento to Barangay Kidawa in Laak on Saturday, March 25 when waylaid by NPA rebels.
Haye and Detomal were in civilian clothes and unarmed when killed by the rebels.
“The NPAs have only brought miseries to the Filipino people for almost 50 years and it is now high time for them to abandon their destructive armed struggle and pursue their political objectives in a peaceful manner,” General Valencia said.
The military leader also extended his condolences to the families of Haye and Detomal.
Meanwhile, 10th ID chief information officer Captain Rhyan Batchar said a series of encounters also took place in Davao City and Compostela Valley between March 25 and March 27.
The first encounter occurred at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, when elements of 3rd Infantry Battalion engaged an undetermined number of NPA rebels belonging to Pulang Bagani Company 2 in Sitio Unapan, Barangay Suawan, Marilog District, Davao City.
Batchar said the 3rd IB pursued the fleeing NPA rebels triggering the second encounter in Sitio Mountainside of the same village the following day, Sunday, March 26 at 5:30 a.m.
Government troopers were able to recover 15 backpacks filled with personal belongings, an improvised explosive device, five improvised hand grenades, 10 blasting caps, two detonating devices, one rifle grenade, a 100-meter wire, one handheld radio, magazines of M16 and AK-47 rifles, live ammunitions, medical paraphernalia, an NPA flag and several subversive documents.
The troops also recovered the dead body of an NPA rebel identified as Patrisio Anab who was left by his fleeing comrades, Batchar added.
The third encounter took place in Sitio Lanipga, Barangay Talian, Maragusan town, Compostela Valley province at around 10:25 a.m. on Monday, March 27, when elements of 66th IB pursued the NPA rebels involved in the burning of vehicles in the area.
Batchar said the NPAs, last March 25 burned three container vans loaded with bananas owned by DOLE Philippines in Purok Gemilina, Poblacion, Maragusan.
Government troopers recovered from the encounter site an M-16 Armalite rifle, supplies and equipments left behind by the rebels.
