CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: The Corona virus have invaded the ranks of the insurgents in Northern Mindanao after some captured and surrendered communists rebels were found COVID -19 positive, the military said Tuesday.
Maj. Francisco Garello, Jr., head of the army’s Division of Public Affairs Office in Camp Evangelista here, said that eight of the 10 captured early September were found positive of COVID-19 virus.
The 10 combatants of the New People’s Army (NPA) were captured during a clashed with state forces in Bukidnon where four NPA rebels killed.
Garello said that one of the slain rebels was found COVID -19 positive prompting the military to immediately bury the dead rebels in coordination with the local government unit (LGU).
He said that the findings prompted rhe military to conduct a swab tests on the 10 captured rebels consisting of four women and three kids.
Garello said that the eight rebels who were found positive of the corona virus underwent treatment in an LGU isolation centers secured by the military.
He said that the incident prompted Maj. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., 4ID commander, to conduct vaccination services to 40 other captives and surrendered NPA rebels in the custody of fbe military.
Garello said 336 insurgents were either captured or surrendered apart from the 50 killed in various separate armed encounters within the 4ID area from January 2021until press time. -0-
