• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A suspected New People’s Army rebel died in an encounter with Philippine Army soldiers in Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Friday (Jan. 10).
Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said that soldiers of the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) were dispatched to check on the reported presence of armed men, which led to a gunbattle in Sitio Cambugi-ot.
The firefight between 15IB soldiers and about 10 armed rebels, who are believed to be remnants of the dismantled South West Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, lasted for about 25 minutes.
The fleeing rebels left behind their slain comrade, who was initially identified as “Ka Wanny”, along with an M14 assault rifle and four bag packs, among other items.
In November last year, six suspected rebels, who were members of the South West Front, also died in an encounter with 47IB soldiers in Barangay Gatuslao, Candoni, Negros Occidental. | GB
