• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A Philippine Army soldier was slightly injured in two encounters with New People’s Army (NPA) remnants in Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Monday, April 6, Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said.
The firefights in Sitio Pinyahon, Barangay Minautok also led to the recovery of an M16 assault rifle believed to be left behind by one of the injured rebels.
Dumosmog said the two encounters ensued after 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers responded to reports of civilians on the presence of about eight armed rebels led by Roger “Jhong” Fabillar.
The first encounter at 8:35 a.m. lasted for about 15 minutes, and almost 10 minutes after, another skirmish ensued.
Dumosmog said the fleeing rebels left traces of bloodstains and a M16 assault rifle was recovered along their withdrawal route.
He also confirmed that an Army corporal was slightly injured after he was hit in his right leg.
The group of Fabillar was behind the series of killings of civilians in the hinterlands of Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante and Victorias City since 2024.
Fabillar, whose uses the alias “Arnel Tapang”, has a million-worth bounty for his arrest as he is facing multiple murder cases in court.
Pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels are underway. | GB
