Cagayan de Oro City—One Special Forces soldier was killed last week during an encounter with the New People’s Army in Barangay Lilingayon, Valencia City, the 4th Infantry Division reported.
The soldier’s name was withheld until the army leadership has informed the family of the soldier who belonged to the 1st Special Forces Battalion operating in Bukidnon province.
Captain Joe Patrick Martinez said the SF responded to a report from residents of the village that the rebels allegedly took some of their money and food.
Lt. Col. Peter Edwin Navarro, commanding officer of the 1st SFbn said they requested police assistance for a law enforcement operation against the Maoist rebels.
“We immediately coordinated with the PNP in the area to verify the report,” Lt. Col. Navarro said.
Martinez said the SF soldiers reached the village but was fired upon by the NPA, “they were unmindful of the civilians in the area.”
The clash between government special forces and the NPA came a week after President Rodrigo Duterte lifted on July 30 the ceasefire he unilaterally declared during his first State of the Nation Address. The Communist Party of Philippines failed to reciprocate the ceasefire on time.
The SF troops scoured the area and initially recovered nine high-powered firearms composed of two AK47, two M653, and five M16 A1 rifles; one improvised explosive device; eight AK47, three M14, and one M16 magazines; one rifle grenade; five gallons of gas; three handheld radios, personal belongings and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
MGen Benjamin Madrigal Jr., 4th Infantry Division commander, congratulated the SF soldiers for driving away the NPA from the community but expressed grief at the loss of life of another soldier.
“Unfortunately, while our troops are performing their duty, one of our soldiers have paid his ultimate sacrifice when he offered his own life just to free our people from NPA atrocities. To our brave soldier, your heroism will always be remembered by the people to whom you dedicated your life and service,” Madrigal said.
“For the NPA in that area, this is a lose-lose situation whenever we see Filipinos losing their precious lives in this conflict. There’s nothing noble about making our people miserable. We urge you to heed the call of the government to stop this non-sense armed struggle and start living peacefully with your families,” he added.