- GILBERT BAYORAN
Another armed skirmishes ensued Wednesday, May 3, in Sitio Ulo-Tuburan, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, that claimed the life of a New People’s Army rebel, and injured two government soldiers.
A female resident was also hit by a stray bullet.
Capt. Raymart Africa, acting Civil Military Operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said Thursday that 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers responded to reports of residents on the presence of armed rebels roaming around and engaging in extortion activities, victimizing residents in the barangay and in neighboring Brgy. Hilamonan in Kabankalan City.
Africa said that 94IB soldiers managed to catch up and engaged an estimated 15 rebels, believed to be members of the Sentro De Grabidad Platoon of the Central Negros 2 under the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/CVebu/Bohol/Siquijor, in about 20 minutes of firefight.
The fleeing rebels left behind their slain companion, whose identity has not been established, as of this time.
Army soldiers scouring the encounter site recovered an M653 automatic assault rifle with a magazine containing ammunition, assorted ammunition for M14 rifle, 12 gauge shotgun, and 38 caliber revolver, among other personal items, foodstuffs, and subversive documents.
With the help of the Himamaylan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the local police, the remains of the slain rebel was retrieved from the encounter site, and brought to a funeral parlor for identification by his family members, Africa said.
Both the injured woman and the two Army soldiers are now being treated in a hospital.
Sixty-five families, who evacuated from their respective homes in the sitio, are now staying at the covered court of Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, which is near to their place.
The city governments of Himamaylan and Kabankalan immediately dispatched their respective social workers and health personnel, who also brought relief goods with them, for distribution to the affected families, and even provided them with tents to sleep on.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, said the affected families will temporarily remain at the evacuation center, pending the clearing of the encounter site and neighboring areas./GB
