SOLDIERS and militiamen providing security to the base camp of Sagittarius Mines Inc. on Friday foiled an attack by more than 50 communist rebels in Tampakan, South Cotabato, a regional military spokesman said Sunday.
“Around 50 NPA rebels launched the attack against the numerically outnumbered soldiers, militiamen and security guards of SMI who held their ground until artillery fire support from the 27 IB [Infantry Battalion] and three Air Force helicopters arrived, forcing the attackers to flee,” said Captain Rhyan Batchar, spokesman of the 10th Infantry Division.
He also said two militiamen who were captured by the New People’s Army were released over the weekend in Davao Oriental.
“We welcome the safe return of Rene Doller, 34, and Carl Mark Nucos, 24, who were abducted by the [communist rebels] in Don Mariano village on February 14, 2017,” Batchar said.
Friday’s attack by the New People’s Army’s Guerrilla Front 72 was simultaneously launched around 7 a.m. against the Tablu CAA detachment and the nearby SMI base camp.
“The firefights lasted for five hours and 25 minutes. No soldier, CAA or security guard was hurt in the attack while the fleeing rebels left behind a hand-held radio and plastic containers filled with gasoline,” Batchar said.
There were no casualties on the NPA side but Batchar said “residents from communities around the area reported seeing the fleeing rebels carrying at least four of their wounded comrades going in different directions.”
Bacthar said the rebels withdrew only after helicopter gunships and artillery fire support from the Air Force and the Army’s artillery unit started to rain 105mm and 155mm bombs against the rebels’ positions.