Army KOs rebels in Masbate firefight

       CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur --- Early morning of the much-hyped Pacquiao – Marquez duel last Sunday, a 15-man group of soldiers engaged in a firefight 15 NPA rebels in Sitio Matagbac, Milagros, Masbate at about 6:00 a.m. of that day, drawing a big knockout victory for the Army in the area.

        “While your Army here in Masbate was busy with feeding programs in partnership with the local government, NPA rebels were also busy extorting money from the local villagers,” reported Lt. Col. Julian Pacatan, commanding officer of the 9th Infantry Battalion based in Milagros, Masbate.

        “They (the people) are tired of NPA extortion activities in the area,” Pacatan added.

        Recovered at the site of the encounter were an M16 rifle, one M653 (baby armalite) rifle, two cal.38 pistols, 25 pieces IEDs (improvised explosive device), one rifle grenade, one binocular, one cellular phone, and subversive documents. The soldiers suffered no casualty during the encounter.

        “Bloodstains are scattered everywhere in the encounter site,” said 2nd Lt. Francis Alfie C. Tuazon, the officer who led the 15-man group of soldiers. He added that local villagers pinpointed the location of the NPA extortionists and saw the rebels carrying their wounded or killed comrades.

        During Pacquiao vs Mosley in May last year, the 9th Infantry Battalion also scored knockout victories against NPA rebels in Aroroy when they killed a top rebel official and another rebel during an encounter there where several high-powered firearms were also seized from the retreating rebels.

        Col. Felix Castro Jr, commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, directed 9th IB, for pursuit operations. “We will just watch Lt.Col. Pacquiao’s fight later, we’ll do our job first,” referring to the boxing hero as a recently commissioned Army officer. (News)