• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Philippine Army soldiers seized 16 high-powered guns and 10 explosives in nine encounters with the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels since Feb. 21 in Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
On Feb. 27, soldiers figured in another encounter with fleeing remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF), leading to the recovery of three carbine rifles, two M1 garand rifles, an M14 rifle, assorted ammunition and four rifle grenades.
On Feb. 21 and 22, they seized 10 high-powered firearms, including four M1 garand rifles, two carbine rifles, M16 assault rifle, AK 47 automatic rifle, M14 rifle and M653 rifle, four rifle grenades, a fragmentation grenade, and an improvised anti- personnel mine, in eight encounters with the communist rebels.
The series of encounters also resulted in the death of three remnants of the dismantled NNF.
Three Army soldiers and a government militiaman were injured in the initial encounter.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Chiqui Gonzales said on Wednesday (Feb. 28) that there are still about 50 internally-displaced persons staying at the evacuation center in Barangay Pinapugasan.
Meanwhile, three suspected NPA rebels died in a clash with 61st Infantry Battalion soldiers in Barangay Torocadan, San Joaquin, Iloilo on Wednesday (Feb. 28).
The encounter, which lasted for 20 minutes, also led to the recovery of four M16 assault rifles, a handheld radio, three bandoleers of ammunition, and nine back packs left behind by the fleeing rebels. | GB
