• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. yesterday suspended anew the classes in eight hinterland barangays of Escalante City, Negros Occidental, following the resumption of armed clashes between Philippine Army soldiers and fleeing New People’s Army rebels (NPA).
Since Feb. 21, the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) has logged nine encounters with remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front, the latest of which took place Tuesday morning (Feb. 27) still in Barangay Pinapugasan.
Classes were suspended in the villages of Pinapugasan, Libertad, Binaguiohan, Paitan, Dian-ay, Magsaysay, Malasibog, and Tamlang.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79IB commander, said that the sinister intention of the NPA rebels to bring the battle to populated areas of Barangay Pinapugasan prompted them to harden pressure to keep the communist terrorists within the encounter site.
Calaoagan also said that the use of closed-air support to regain a strategic position paved the way towards a decisive and advantageous position for 79IB troopers for the protection of civilians.
On Monday, about 100 individuals have preferred to stay at the evacuation center in Barangay Pinapugasan proper.
Three suspected NPA rebels died while four government troopers were injured during the first encounter on Feb. 21 in Sitio Masulao.
Government troops recovered at least six high-powered firearms with ammunition, an improvised landmine, 40mm ammunition for M203 grenade launcher and several rifle grenades.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, slammed the NPA for its continuing use of anti-personnel mine, which is a violation of the International Humanitarian Law. | GB
