Five Army soldiers were injured after members of the New People’s Army detonated an anti-personnel mine during an encounter at about 3 p.m., today, Nov. 3 in Sitio Tiyos, Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.
The gunbattle between an estimated 20 NPA rebels and Army soldiers lasted for more than an hour, prompting the combined Sentro De Grabidad Platoon and Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda of Central Negros 1- Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor to flee towards northeast and southeast directions, reports from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division said.
Capt. Kim Apitong, spokesperson of the 3ID, said that a joint operation was conducted by the 62nd and 79th Infantry Battalions, in response to reports from civilians on the presence of rebels consolidating in their community.
While the soldiers were in the area, Apitong said there was an explosion which triggered a gunbattle and resulted to the injury of some Army men.
Apitong added that eight to 10 rebels may have been killed during the encounter as heavy traces of bloodstains were discovered along the separate routes of the fleeing rebels.
He added that the five injured Army soldiers were immediately evacuated by Philippine Air Force Blackhawk helicopters from the encounter site, as more government troops were inserted in the area for pursuit operations.
Army soldiers scouring the encounter site initially recovered personal belongings and other war materials, which are now being consolidated for documentation.
Apitong said they received information that NPA rebels are consolidating their forces in the area to intensify their extortion activities with the onset of May 2022 elections. — GB
