• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Four suspected New People’s Army rebels died, while six high-powered firearms were recovered by Army soldiers, during series of encounters yesterday in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, according to initial reports received by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command.
The identities of the four slain rebels were yet to be established, as of press time last night.
Recovered from the encounter sites were two AK-47 assault rifles, two M-16 assault rifles and two M203 grenade launchers, the VISCOM reports further said.
The renewed armed clashes between 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers and about 20 suspected NPA in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, also triggered another temporary dislocation of 181 families.
The affected families, composed of 651 individuals, are now temporarily staying at the Carabalan barangay covered court, and their basic needs are being attended to by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, as per instructions from Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson.
Of the temporarily displaced residents, 194 came from Sitio Canagbaan, 175 from Sitio Cabalungan, 141 from Sitio Casipungan, 130 from Sitio Daat, and 11 others are residents of Sitio Florete, all in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, according to a report issued by the Punong Barangay Mildred Titular.
Two Army soldiers were also injured in the gun battle.
One of them was immediately awarded yesterday with a Wounded Personnel Medal by Col. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, at a private hospital in Bacolod City.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94th Infantry Battalion commander, disclosed that the running gun battle ensued for about 20 minutes, after government troops responded to the information of civilians relayed to them on the presence of about 20 rebels in their community.
Almonte said that pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels, who scampered in various directions, are still ongoing as of press time.
He also lauded barangay residents for the timely information relayed to them, as they were able to thwart the extortion activities of NPA rebels in the area.*
