At least four 28th IB soldiers under the 4th ID died in an encounter with a New People’s Army (NPA) unit in Sityo Kiudto, Barangay Hagpa, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon on May 23. Those killed included a lieutenant and a corporal. Five other soldiers sustained injuries.

The report from the NPA-North Central Mindanao Region states that the Red army fired first at the walking 28th IB troopers. The battle lasted ten minutes, and the people’s army unit immediately withdrew safely. Meanwhile, the 28th IB continued firing indiscriminately for thirty minutes.

The 4th ID initially reported the encounter and admitted that their troops were injured, but did not disclose the recorded number of deaths in their ranks. The soldiers used a Black Hawk helicopter to retrieve their dead and wounded.

The defeated 4th ID soldiers retaliated by firing six cannon shells at the residents’ farms. This terrorist act by the military caused great fear, trauma, and destruction of livelihoods.

The 4th ID commander boosted the morale of the 28th IB, which lost and wounded troops, by recognizing the wounded troops as “heroes,” but gave no recognition to the soldiers who died.

Meanwhile, the NPA launched a harassment operation against the forces of the 88th IB in Sityo Dinalhagan, Barangay Balagnan, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur on May 8. The Red army’s harassment operation targeted the same troops in the sitio again on May 18. This caused tension among the brutal soldiers and their combat operations.