By Cris Diaz, Executive Editor
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: A government trooper was killed as fresh fighting erupted anew in the hinterlands of Gingoog, a component city of Misamis Oriental, Wednesday morning.
Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy, Commanding Officer of the army’s 58 Infantry Battalion, said that the name of the lone military casualty was withheld pending notification of the family.
He said that the firefight took place in San Juan, a hinterland village of Gingoog City, east of Misamis Oriental early Wednesday dawn.
Canatoy said that the armed encounter occurred while the military was conducting security patrol in on information about the presence of an armed group in the area.
He said that the military operation was an offshoot following the surrender of a top officer of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) last month.
“At the moment, a hot pursuit was ongoing in the encounter area hoping that the military operatives could make contact anytime,” Canatoy said. -0-
