Jefferson
M. Somera
KUTA SANG-AN – Three (3) Platoons of 53rd Infantry
Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. Victor S Tangawohn while conducting
security operations at Sitio Ludiaw, Brgy Dagum, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur
encountered more or less 50 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) under the
Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee around 8 in the morning.
The
gun fight had lasted for almost two hours leaving 5 slightly wounded in action
in the government side caused by sharp nails from a detonated landmine while
still undetermined to the enemy side that immediately withdrew after the fire
fight.
According
to Lt. Col Tangawohn, his unit received information from concerned citizens
that there were groups of armed men conducting house to house visitation in
their area that caused fear and panic to the residents. This
prompted him to send troops to verify the information. The responding soldiers
immediately located the enemy’s whereabouts and the New People’s Army
immediately fire at the troops and detonated in placed landmines when sensing
that their harbour site has been penetrated by the government forces.
