Banana firm security guard dies, 5 soldiers hurt in S. Cotabato clash
Local News • 17:38 PM Wed Aug 5, 2015
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By:
Edwin Fernandez and Roel Osano
A banana plantation in Tampakan,South Cotabato.
KORONADAL CITY – Suspected communist guerrillas
killed a security guard of a banana company and wounded five soldiers in an
attack late Tuesday night in Tampakan, South Cotabato.
Colonel Ronald Jess Alcudia, 27th
Infantry Battalion commander, said the soldiers were on foot patrol near the
banana firm’s airstrip when attacked by undetermined number of armed men
believed to be New Peoples’ Army (NPA) in Barangay Kipalbig, Tampakan, South
Cotabato.
Citing intelligence reports, Alcudia said the armed
men have plotted to destroy the light aircraft parked at the firm’s airstrip.
Because of the report, Alcudia deployed a team of
soldiers to Barangay Kipalbig.
Killed was security guard Melchor Galamagang who was
declared dead on arrival at the South Cotabato provincial hospital here.
The wounded infantrymen were Privates First Class (PFC)
John Ivan Suarte, Danny Mark Tandog, John Paul Salindong Mohammad Ali at Alfred
Ablanzar. Three of them were outpatient for suffering minor injuries while Ali
and Ablanzar were moved to a private hospital in Gen. Santos City.
A 30-minute fire fight ensued until the guerrillas fled
to the hinterlands of Barangay Kipalbig after the 11 p.m. skirmishes.
Alcudia could not say whether or not the armed men
suffered casualties.