- NND NEWS TEAM
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Himamaylan Monday declared the whole city under a state of calamity, due to the ongoing military operations against the New People’s Army rebels in the hinterlands of Brgy. Carabalan.
Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said this was upon the recommendation of Mayor Raymund Tongson and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and now allows the LGU to utilize the Quick Response Fund and enables the release of national calamity funds to agencies involved in relief operations.
The number of displaced residents now staying in evacuation centers already reached 15,024, or 3,543 families.
This as the 94th Infantry Battalion reported a fifth encounter with the rebels, also in the barangay, at around 5:25 this afternoon, Oct. 10.
The report also said that a suspected member of the NPA was killed during the renewed skirmishes.
BGen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd IB commander, said that the body of the slain rebel was left by his fleeing comrades at the encounter site.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that, as of now, there is no clearance yet from the Philippine Army for evacuees to return to their homes.
“I am hoping that we can do that as soon as possible, because the longer they stay in evacuation centers, the harder it is for the government to take care of them,” Lacson said, adding that the farm animals and personal belongings left behind have to be taken care of by somebody.
He said that 3,543 families are now being clustered in seven evacuation centers, and their basic needs being attended to by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and the DSWD Region 6 personnel.
The DSWD6 said Sunday it already released P162,000 in assistance to families affected by armed conflict in Himamaylan, and regional director Carmelo Nochete, who led the team, assured the affected residents of help for them to recover.
Aside from cash, also provided were food and non-food items, including 1,136 family food packs and 105 sleeping kits.
The Army, meanwhile, identified the two soldiers, who were killed during the fourth encounter with NPA terrorists in Sitio Sig-ang, Brgy. Carabalan Oct. 8, as Corporal Christian Drilon, a native of San Enrique, Iloilo; and Corporal Rex Verde of Guimaras, both of the 94th IB.
The six wounded personnel were Corporal Joey Gardose, Private First Class (PFC) Rolly Rama, PFC June Fuentes, PFC Wilson Liander Jr., Private Wilchor Recaña, and Sergeant Edgiel Ucag, the 303rd Infantry Brigade said.
Pasaporte condoled with the families of the two fallen soldiers, and commended them for their heroism and gallantry, and for paying the ultimate sacrifice for the peace and security of Himamaylan City and Negros Island.
He said that Drilon and Verde will be conferred with posthumous Gold Cross medals.
He earlier said that numerous rebels are also believed to have been either injured or killed in gunbattles, as indicated by bloodstains along their withdrawal routes. The government troops also recovered a .45 caliber pistol and other war materials from the encounter sites.
Pasaporte said they are not yet allowing the affected residents to return home until such time that the affected areas are cleared by the Army.
On Oct. 9, Defense Department officer-in-charge, Jose Faustino Jr., led top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in giving honors to the bravery of slain and injured soldiers, for protecting the people of Himamaylan from the rebels.
Faustino, accompanied by AFP chief of staff Gen. Vicente Bartolome Bacarro, Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, personally led the awarding of Wounded Personnel Medal to each of the six injured members of the 94th IB at a private hospital in Bacolod City./GB, CGC
