1 soldier killed, 3 others hurt in Agusan Sur clash

A soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a clash with New People's Army rebels in a town in Agusan del Sur before noon Thursday, a military official said. At a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces public affairs office chief Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos also said casualties on the side of the rebels were undetermined. According to Burgos, the clash happened when elements of the 5th Scout Ranger Company stormed a rebel camp in Kalabuan village's Sitio Simontana in Esperanza town around 11 a.m. “The NPA rebels encountered by our government troops are under George Madlos, the same person who claimed responsibility of the burning of heavy equipment at three mining firms," Burgos said. Last Monday afternoon, some 200 insurgents attacked Taganito Mining Company, its sister firm THPAL, and Platinum Group Metal Corp, all in Claver town in Surigao del Norte. Meanwhile, Burgos said that during clearing operation on Thursday at the NPA camp, the soldiers recovered four AK-47 rifles, one Ultimax rifle, three M14 rifles, and four M16 rifles. Burgos said the engagement was part of the pursuit operations ordered by Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban against the rebels who attacked the mining firms. In the conduct of the pursuit operation, troops established blocking positions, he said. “Two days ago, our chief of staff ordered a pursuit operation. Today (Thursday), we got a result. We overran a camp of the NPAs and they are on the run…," Burgos added. Military, police officials sacked Seeing "serious security" lapses that led to the attack on the mining firms, General Oban on Thursday ordered the sacking of two senior military officials. Relieved were 402nd Brigade commander Col. Rodrigo Diapana and his deputy and concurrent Task Force Stingrer commander Col. Cresente Maligmat. Last Tuesday, Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome ordered the sacking of three ranking police officials in Surigao del Norte, a day after the attacks on the mining firms. Police officers who were relieved were Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Talento, head of the Surigao del Norte police; Superintendent Rudy Cuyop, public safety battalion commander in the area; and Senior Inspector Diomedes Cuadra, chief of police in Claver. — LBG, GMA News