Two suspected New People’s Army rebels were captured, and several others were reported to have been injured, following an encounter with the 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers on Aug. 3 in Sitio Agbacagay, Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.
The gun-battle that ensued between about 30 NPA rebels and 94IB soldiers lasted for about 10 minutes, and led to the capture of George Esyo, with aliases Pakyaw and Partner, and Eduardo Mission, alias Ka Edo, both of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, and members of the Central Negros Front 1 of the NPA, Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman said.
Guzman, who is the 94IB commander, said the capture of the two rebels, who were hiding on a creek line, was reported to his troops by civilians in the area.
Also recovered at the encounter site were an M653 assault rifle with several magazines containing ammunition, solar panels, cellular phones, two backpacks, and other war materials.
Based on the testimonies of civilians, Guzman said the injured rebels were carried by their fleeing comrades, while no one among his troops was hurt in the encounter.
The operation was launched after residents reported the presence of armed rebels in their community, he added.
“Our operations in Negros Island will be relentless,” Guzman said, stressing that they are determined to free the communities from the presence of rebels and their terroristic activities.
Two weeks ago, 94IB soldiers also figured in two armed skirmishes with NPA rebels in Brgy. Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, and Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, that also claimed the life of a suspected rebel. –GB
