- GILBERT BAYORAN
Four suspected New People’s Army rebels died, while six high-powered firearms were recovered by Army soldiers during a series of encounters March 1in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, according to reports received by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command.
The identities of the four slain rebels are yet to be established.
Recovered from the encounter sites were two AK 47 assault rifles, two M16 assault rifles and two M203 grenade launchers, the VISCOM report added.
An army soldier was injured during the renewed armed clashes between 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers and about 20 suspected rebels in Brgy. Carabalan, which also triggered another temporary dislocation of 181 families.
The affected families, composed of 651 individuals, are now temporarily staying at the Carabalan barangay covered court. Their basic needs are being attended to by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, as per instructions of Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson.
Carabalan punong barangay Mildred Titular said that of the displaced residents, 194 are from Sitio Canagbaan, 175 from Sitio Cabalungan, 141 from Sitio Casipungan, 130 from Sitio Daat, while 11 others are residents of Sitio Florete.
The injured Army soldier, whose identity has been withheld, was immediately awarded yesterday with Wounded Personnel Medal by Col. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, at a private hospital in Bacolod City.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94th Infantry Battalion commander, said that the running gunbattle ensued for about 20 minutes, after government troops responded to information from civilians on the presence of about 20 rebels in their community.
Almonte said that pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels are still ongoing, as of this time.
He also lauded residents for the timely information relayed to them, as they were able to thwart the extortion and food foraging activities of the rebels in the area.
“The 94IB will continue to conduct community security patrols to ensure the safety and security of the people of Negros Occidental,” Almonte added./GB
