NEW People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas attacked a military patrol base in Compostela Valley on Tuesday while the Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr., is in the province visiting the troops.

A soldier, two militiamen and a civilian were killed during the attack. Another militiaman was injured.

Another group of rebels also harassed the headquarters of an Army battalion in Davao del Sur that was on the list of camps that were to be visited by the top military chief.

Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesman for the Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command, said communist guerrillas attacked the Tagbalaobao Patrol Base at barangay Tagnanan, Mabini, Compostela Valley, at about 9:30 a.m.

Two members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) and a civilian were also killed during the firefight.

Galon identified the fatalities as Sgt. Danilo Baniued; Ricardo Diaz and Raul Consulta, both members of the Cafgu, and a civilian were also killed; and Consulta’s wife Cecilia.

Galon said Cecilia together with her relative Burtogo Consulta, and militiaman Tirzo Diaz suffered gunshot wounds during the firefight and were rushed to the hospital for treatment after the rebels have left.

Cecilia, however, succumbed to her wounds while undergoing treatment.

Galon said the gun battle lasted for 50 minutes, after which the rebels left after taking high-powered firearms including three M-14 rifles, three M-1 Garand rifles and a caliber .30 carbine.

The incident happened while Oban was in the headquarters of the Army’s 10th Infantry “Agila” Division at Mawab in Compostela Valley as part of his visit to military forces in Mindanao.

From the 10th ID, Oban was scheduled to proceed to the headquarters of the 69th Infantry Battalion, which Galon said was also harassed by the rebels.

On Saturday members of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 20 snatched Mayor Henry Dano and his two bodyguards from his residence in Lingig, Surigao del Sur.

The crisis management committee headed by Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel has yet to hear from the kidnappers.

Last month, communist rebels kidnapped four members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology who were on their way to transfer prisoners from the Ozamis City Jail to the Davao Penal Colony.

(With Z. Solmerin)