• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, who are remnants of the South West Front of Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, died in an encounter with government troops in Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Nov. 7.
1Lt. Weann Sandag, civil-military operations officer of Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB), yesterday said that soldiers responded to reports from civilians on the presence of armed rebels.
Taking place in Sitio Cambaga, Barangay Yao-Yao, the first encounter between soldiers and about 10 NPA rebels lasted for five minutes. It was followed by another armed engagement as soldiers were pursuing the fleeing rebels.
While scouring the encounter site, the soldiers found the bodies of two slain rebels, whose identities are still being established as of this time.
Also recovered from the temporary harboring site of fleeing rebels were an M14 assault rifle, an M653 automatic rifle with three magazines containing ammunition, a caliber .45 pistol, an anti- personnel mine with a blasting cap, three backpacks containing personal belongings, assorted medicines and subversive documents.
It was also discovered that the recovered caliber .45 pistol was traced to have been owned by the late Army soldier Jhoerom Meguillo, who was killed by NPA rebels on April 3 last year in Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City.
The group of rebels encountered by the 15IB were also involved in an encounter with 47th Infantry Battalion troopers on Sept. 21 this year in Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City, that also claimed the lives of their six rebels and led to the recovery of assorted high-powered guns.
Two days earlier, four members of the South West Front surrendered to the 15IB, and turned over a high-powered firearm.
Another encounter between NPA remnants and 94th Infantry Battalion also took place yesterday in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
Based on initial military reports, 94IB soldiers clashed with about 10 NPA rebels. | GB
