- GILBERT BAYORAN
Following a declaration that the encounter site and neighboring areas in Sitio Ulo-Tuburan, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, have been cleared of armed rebels, the Philippine Army gave the go signal for the return of displaced residents to their respective homes.
Army Capt. Raymart Africa, Civil Military Operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said Friday, May 5, that the affected families have started to return to their respective residences since Thursday, or a day after the encounter.
The 65 affected families fled to neighboring Brgy. Hilamonan in Kabankalan City, where they stayed overnight at the barangay covered court and were provided with temporary shelter and relief goods by government social workers.
The gun battle between 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers and 15 NPA rebels, believed to be members of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros 2 under the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, lasted for about 20 minutes and claimed the life of a local insurgent, injured two Army soldiers, while a civilian was hit with a stray bullet.
Africa identified the slain rebel as Crispin Tingal, alias Ka Padon, 36, of Sitio Dangalon, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City. His body was claimed by his family from a funeral parlor.
Africa said that the fleeing rebels left behind Tingal at the encounter site, while government troops also recovered an M653 automatic assault rifle with a magazine containing ammunition, assorted ammunition for M14 rifle, 12-gauge shotgun, and a .38 caliber revolver, among other personal items, assorted foodstuff, and subversive documents.
The two injured soldiers, identified as PFC Denyl Reyes and PFC Dionald Dumagat, and Maria Fe Caboctolan, 59, who was hit by a stray bullet, were reported to have been in stable condition./GB
