• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The 122 families displaced by the recent encounter between Philippine Army soldiers and remnants of the New People’s Army in Toboso, Negros Occidental have started to return home Thursday afternoon (March 20).
This came after the site of the gunbattle in Sitio Bairan, Barangay General Luna has already been cleared from the presence of rebels.
First Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil-military operations chief of 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), said that a clearance has been issued by battalion commander Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, allowing the return of internally displaced persons to their places of residence, following a dialogue with the barangay officials.
The encounter on March 18 led to the injuries of three Army soldiers, who are now in stable condition.
Recovered at the encounter site were an M16 assault rifle, a caliber .38 revolver, assorted ammunition and magazines of M16 and AK47 assault rifles, a 40mm high explosive grenade, two cellular phones, food supply, subversive documents, and personal belongings.
Samoza said they received reports that some fleeing rebels led by Arnel Tapang, who has a bounty of P1 million for his arrest, were also injured in the gunbattle as indicated in the bloodstains discovered along their withdrawal routes.
Those who may have information on the injured rebels are being advised to coordinate with the nearest military or police outsposts so that they can be accorded medical treatment, he added.
Samoza said they were able to prevent the rebel remnants and leaders from regrouping to consolidate their remaining forces and regain their lost territories.
Last week, two top NPA regional officials died in an encounter with 79IB troopers in Barangay Caduha-an, Cadiz City. | GB
