AFP attack on NPA camp stymied
On the twelfth of June, an NPA unit successfully defended itself and safely retreated after the 11th IB penetrated and attempted to destroy a guerrilla encampment in Tacpao, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental. Not only did the AFP return home frustrated, it sustained eight dead and seven wounded after the tables were turned and Red fighters lying in ambush rained bullets on them. A Red fighter was martyred in the firefight.
According to the Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC), as early as June 10, one of its encamped units had already monitored the movements of a reconnaissance platoon of the 11th IB and had already analyzed the objective of the enemy operation. The enemy platoon's mission was to engage any force it may encounter in the NPA camp. Its mode of operation consisted of night movements. But NPA sentries in their concealed guard posts and everyone else in the camp were already on alert.
At around 4:45 at dawn on June 12, it was the NPA that first rained bullets on enemy forces who were maneuvering to penetrate the camp perimeter. Sentry 1 opened fire as the enemy conducted flanking maneuvers from the left and right. Three soldiers from the 11th IB died on the spot and several others were wounded. Sentry 2 then came to reinforce Sentry 1. The enemy was so taken by surprise and relegated to a defensive position that it immediately retreated. Nevertheless, the NPA was unable to sustain the initiative to wipe out the enemy altogether. Information was not immediately relayed to the NPA command that would have enabled the latter to gauge the overall battle situation and order the pursuit and annihilation of the retreating enemy.
By around 8 a.m., all of the NPA forces had already retreated. Three hours passed before enemy reinforcements arrived.
The military brought four helicopters to evacuate its dead and wounded in an attempt to conceal its defeat. Retreating troops of the 11th IB then simply spread the "news" to every barrio they passed through that they had allegedly killed a large number on the NPA side.
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