Two Army soldiers died and four others were injured during an encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Tiyos, Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental Nov. 3.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said that the encounter took place after the 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers attacked a rebel lair in the area, in response to information from residents about the presence of armed rebels in their community.
Pasaporte said the first encounter at about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday between about 20 rebels and 79IB soldiers resulted in injuries to six government troopers, two of them died later while being treated at a hospital in Cebu City.
The four other Army soldiers are now in stable condition, he added.
Based on the testimonies of soldiers who figured in the encounter, four injured rebels were also seen being carried away by their fleeing comrades, Pasaporte also said.
Recovered at the encounter site were assorted foodstuffs, ammunition, and four backpacks left behind by the fleeing rebels, he added.
An hour later, Pasaporte said reinforcing troopers from the 62nd Infantry Battalion encountered a group of fleeing rebels in the same area. But he has yet to receive an update on that gunbattle, as of this time.
Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, yesterday said the 79IB managed to thwart the planned offensive of the NPA in central Negros, that was reported to have been consolidating their forces in the area. — GB
