• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Three soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) were slightly injured in an encounter with remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Bairan, Barangay General Luna, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Tuesday (March 18).
PCapt. Arnel Lasap, chief of Toboso Municipal Police Station, said the wounded troops are now in stable condition.
He said the 79IB soldiers encountered about seven remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front at about 7:12 a.m.
In a separate interview, Councilor Richard Jaojoco said that the 73 displaced families, composed of 252 persons, are staying at the Amaparado Elementary School and the covered court in Barangay General Luna.
The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office immediately provided food and other needs to the internally displaced persons (IDPs), he added.
Lasap said there is no clearance yet from the Philippine Army for the affected residents to return to their respective residences as pursuit operations against fleeing rebels are ongoing.
Last week, two top regional officials of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor died in an encounter with 79IB troopers in Barangay Caduha-an, Cadiz City. | GB
