BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Renewed armed clashes on January 15 in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, claimed the life of a suspected member of the New People’s Army and the capture of four of his comrades, Lt. Col. Melvin Flores, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said.
The identities of the slain rebel and his captured comrades, however, were not available as of this time.
Flores disclosed that 62IB troops responded to information relayed by a civilian that an armed group was consolidating in Sitio Manlibod, Brgy. Sandayao, Guihulngan City, purposely to conduct extortion activities.
The information turned out to be positive, resulting in an approximately five-minute armed engagement between Army soldiers and about 12 NPA rebels, believed to be members of Central Negros (Front) 1, Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor.
This resulted to the killing a member of the NPA, and capture of four others, two of whom were injured in the gun battle and left behind by their fleeing comrades, Flores said.
Recovered from the encounter site were a KG9 automatic pistol with a magazine containing 23 live ammunition, a .45 caliber pistol, a backpack, assorted ammunition and subversive documents.
Flores disclosed that the two injured rebels were immediately transported to the Guihulngan District Hospital for treatment.*
