by RG Alama

Davao City (15 June) -- At least nine New People's Army rebels were killed during a dawn clash last June 7 in Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province where the Army also suffered four dead.

During a press conference held last Thursday (June 14) at the Task Force Davao Headquarters in Davao City. 1001st Infantry Brigade Commanding General Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza presented two witnesses who reported the NPA casualties. Datu Carlos Duron, Tribal leader of Barangay Pasian in Monkayo and Danny Masalig a brother of one of the NPAs killed.

Duron, said that a very reliable asset confirmed the NPA deaths. He said it included a high-ranking NPA commander, Daryl Masalig alyas Kumander Daryl. "My neighbor was asked to retrieve the body of kumander Daryl who was buried beside a large durian tree 300 meters away from the site of the encounter," Duron said.

The Datu also said that some of the NPA corpses were buried while some are already rotting. The casualties were the result when a platoon of soldiers under the 28th Infantry Battalion swooped down on a rebel encampment located sheltering about 70 rebels from Front Committee 20.

Meanwhile, Danny Masalig confirmed the death of his brother Daryl, who holds the rank of rebel commander and asked for help in retrieving his brother's body.

Holganza said that Masalig and Duron debunked the NPA claim of inflicting 15 casualties among the Army troopers while suffering only one. He said it is normal for the rebels to pad the casualty figures of the government side and reduce theirs. Brig. Gen. Holganza also belied reports that it was a company-size Army unit that engaged the NPAs but rather a small platoon who were outnumbered but still stood their ground.