AGUSAN DEL NORTE – Dalawang kasapi ng New People’s Army ang napatay ng militar sa sagupaan sa lalawigang ito.

Ayon sa ulat na nakarating sa punong himpilan ng Philippine Army sa Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila, nakasagupa ng mga tauhan ng 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion ng Army 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade ang isang pulutong ng communist terrorist group sa Sitio Little Baguio, Brgy. Consorcia, Las Nieves, ng nasabing lalawigan.

Napag-alaman, nagsasagawa ng routine combat patrol operation ang tropa ng 23IB  na nasa ilalim ng  402Bde, na pinamumunuan ni BGen. Adonis Ariel G. Orio, nang masabat nila ang 15 miyembro ng Platoon Sagay, SRC 3 ng North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCRMC) sa Las Nieves.

Nakuha sa nasabing operasyon ang ilang mataas na kalibre ng baril na kinabibilangan ng isang light machine gun, isang AK47 rifle; isang M16 Rifle; isang anti-personnel mine (APM); 11 AK47 magazines; tatlong M14 magazines; NPA flags; subversive documents at assorted personal belongings.

Kinilala ang mga napaslang na sina Rey Torregosa, 24, ng Brgy. Maasin, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, miyembro ng Platoon Sagay, SRC 3; at Juliven Badbaran, 41, residente ng Brgy. Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur, commanding officer ng Platoon Banglas, SRC 3, miyembro ng Platoon Sagay, SRC3 ng North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCRMC).

Pinapurihan ni, BGen. Adonis Ariel G. Orio, commander ng 402nd Infantry Brigade, ang tropa ng 23IB, “I would like to commend the troops of 23rd Infantry Battalion for your recent accomplishment. Indeed, the successful conduct of your combat operation was a result of careful planning, excellent intelligence and strategy with flawless execution of our capable leaders and soldiers.”

“Still, we appeal to all the remaining members of the Communist Terrorist Groups to lay down your arms and return to the folds of law to live peacefully and be with your families. As we have vowed to protect our people, we will continue to hunt the enemies down and remain true to our mandate of sustaining the peace and development in the area of Agusan,” ani BGen. Orio. (JESSE KABEL)