Military honors fallen Marine trooper slain in Kalamansig clash

CAMP
SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The Army’s 6th Infantry Division
here has honored Wednesday afternoon a member of Marine Battalion Landing Team
(MBLT-2) who perished during an encounter between government forces and
communist guerillas in the coastal town of Sultan Kudarat Monday.
Maj.
Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr, Western Mindanao command chief, led the Joint Task
Force Central headed by Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, also 6th ID
chief, in honoring Marine Private Albino B. Bahian III, 24, who died when
Marine troopers engaged communist New Peoples Army (NPA) guerillas in Sitio
Tinagdanan, Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
Image may contain one or more people people standing sky cloud and outdoor sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17457344_618626628343818_355946185341380406_n.jpg?oh=d27bf3ce25fdc663d5d1c5de73554f35andampoe=594F00AA The Marines
were on security patrol in Hinalaan, a community of Indigenous Peoples, as part
of the military’s strategy in winning the hearts and minds of communities being
influenced by communist rebels.
But
at 10 a.m. while the Marines on board a 6 by 6 truck was ambushed by rebels who
belonged to Guerilla Front 73 under Tirzo Sakudal alias Commander MacMac.

Marine
intelligence officers, quoting statements from residents of Barangay Hinalaan
and on condition of anonymity, told reporters the six rebels were killed and 11
wounded when the Marines fired artillery toward the rebels’ position.
Pursuit
and covert operations continue. The military
also awarded medals for injured nine other Marine troopers identified as SSgt
Alexander C. Falcasantos, Corporals Joseph C. Accad, Castle S. Camu, Robert
Paul C de Asis, Marlon C. Ampao, Private First Class Kenneth Dave Dave A.
Calaycay and Glenn C. Genova, and Private Jared R. Sugagil.
Image may contain 2 people people standing sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17458037_618626675010480_2608492184684489317_n.jpg?oh=9d000dfce0c838fe146d27b367be4e00andampoe=59658C03 We will
make sure that his sacrifices and gallantray will be treasured and his remains
will be accorded with the highest honors, Galvez said during the ceremony.
The
young Marine private was hit in the head during the first volley of fire.
Bahian, who is from Barangay Masilakon 1, Lugait, Misamis Oriental, died on the
spot.
Mayor
Ronan Eugene Garcia of Kalamansig condemned the attacks by communist rebels who
he accused of influencing the IPs in Barangay Hinalaan to rebel against the government.
My
salute to Private Bahian, he said. The
people of Kalamansig do not deserve harassment, extortion and atrocities by
communist rebels, he added.
There
are no NPAs in Kalamansig, Garcia said of his town of 50,000 people. We do
not need you here, we are peaceful here, he told the rebels in a radio
interview.
Garcia said
the rebels were from Sen. Ninoy Aquino town, also in Sultan Kudarat. Image may contain one or more people people standing and outdoor sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17457834_618626721677142_5740890819104605628_n.jpg?oh=bfc5f9a1c4654de8b7dcf7a0230c5bd1andampoe=595FE79F