By CRIS DIAZ
CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City: Nine members of the outlawed New People’s Army (NPA) were killed, eight firearms captured when state forces clashed with the NPA early dawn on Christmas Day, Dec 25, 2023, the military reported Sunday.
Maj. Francisco Garello, spokesperson of the army’s 4th Infantry Division here, said that the firefight took place in the hinterlands bordering Can-ayan, Kibalabag, Brgy. Kulaman, and Brgy. Mapulo all of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
He said that the military was sustaining its military offensive on its area of coverage in the hinterlands of Northern Mindanao even on Christmas eve resulting in an armed encounter with yhe communist NPAs early dawn on Christmas day.
No casualties were reported on the government side while hot pursuit and clearing operations in the encounter site continues.
The sustained military offensive was a joint operations of the elements of the army’s 8IB and the Special Forces Battalion, Garello said.
Last week, the communist NPA issued a self declaration of a two-day ceasefire on Dec. 25 and Dec 26, 2023, without the concurrence of government and the armed forces prompting the military to sustain combat operations even on Christmas Holidays. -0-
