- GILBERT BAYORAN
A suspected temporary camp of the New People’s Army was overran Saturday by Army soldiers, following a gun-battle at Sitio Tunap, Brgy. San Jose, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
Lt. Col. Michael Cuarteros, 15th Infantry Battalion commander, reported that the firefight lasted for 10 minutes before the rebels, numbering about 15, vacated their hideout, and left behind a caliber pistol, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, a cellular phone, assorted medical paraphernalia, a transistor radio, 200m electrical wire, a jungle pack, a solar panel, a flashlight, hammocks, a poncho tent, two pairs of rain boots, and subversive documents.
While nobody was injured among Army soldiers, Cuarteros reported the discovery of bloodstains, which indicated that some of the fleeing rebels may have been injured in the gun-battle.
Army soldiers utilized K9 dogs to track down the rebels.
The encounter also triggered the evacuation of 47 families, composed of 181 individuals.
Of the displaced families, 39 are now staying at the covered court of neighboring Brgy. Gil Montilla, Seventh Day Adventist Church, and Patiotio Daycare centers, while eight other families are outside evacuation centers, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said.
The displaced families were provided with 20 tents, hot meals, among other food items by the City Social Welfare and Development Office./GB
