MORE than 800 residents, who fled following a gun battle between rebels and government soldiers, returned to their homes Monday morning, March 27 in Suawan village, Marilog District, after the government troops declared their area cleared.
“We conducted on Sunday a meeting together with Davao City Social Service and Development Office. Right now, the situation is back to normal at nagsibalikan na ang mga evacuees (the evacuees went back home),” 3rd Infantry Battalion (IB) Civil Military Operations Officer Alenel Valles said.
According to Valles, about 30 individuals believed to be members of the New People’s Army, under Alias Aldrin of Pulang Bagani Command 2 of Southern Mindanao Regional Committed, and members of the government forces engaged in a two-hour armed encounter at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 25.
Troops under 2nd Lieutenant Michael Diaz of the 3rd IB were conducting combat clearing operation at that time along the mountainous parts of Suawan village when they crossed paths with the fully armed men in Sitio Bia-ong.
Valles said troops are conducting hot pursuit operation at possible enemy withdrawal routes.
“As of now, continuous ‘yong pursuit operation natin at on-going pa kami pero doon sa barangay mismo wala ng threat (As of now, pursuit operation is still ongoing but the village is free of threat),” Valles assured.
During the clearing operation at the encounter site, the troops recovered 15 back packs, ten blasting caps, 100-meter electrical wire, one magazine for M16 rifle, two pieces of magazine for AK47 rifle, fifty rounds of assorted live ammunition and subversive documents.
Around 10:30 a.m. Monday, they were able to recover one improvised explosive device, one improvised hand grenade, two back packs, medical equipment, assorted medicines, personal belongings and subversive documents.
The Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), on Sunday, distributed food packs to the evacuees who fled to the Suawan village gym in Marilog District.
CSSDO head Maria Luisa Bermudo said their office sent a team to the area last Sunday to give out food packs to 861 families who took shelter at the gym.
“Sunday pa, nag response ang City Government so ongoing gihapon ang monitoring sa area (The City Government already responded to the incident last Sunday, the monitoring in the area is still ongoing),” Bermudo said.
She said when their team arrived last Sunday, village officials and leaders in the area had already made initial efforts to address the needs of the evacuees.