• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The number of displaced persons affected by the recent encounter between Army soldiers and remnants of the New People’s Army in Sitio Bairan, Barangay General Luna, Toboso, Negros Occidental, increased to 122 families, composed of 412 individuals, according to Councilor Richard Jaojoco.
The displaced residents are staying at the Amparado Elementary School and the covered court in Barangay General Luna, Toboso, and also outside of the evacuation centers.
Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, 3rd Infantry Division Civil Military Operations chief, yesterday confirmed that three Army soldiers were slightly injured in the gunbattle which lasted about 16 minutes.
Lamzon, however, said the three soldiers are now in stable condition.
Recovered at the encounter site were an M16 assault rifle, a caliber .38 revolver, assorted ammunition and magazines of M16 and AK47 assault rifles, gadgets, foodstuff, and subversive documents, as well as personal belongings.
In a statement, the 3ID lauded the 79IB and local residents for their collaborative efforts which prevented the rebel remnants from regrouping, leading to the seizure of war materials.
Last week, two top regional officials of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor died in an encounter with 79IB troopers in Barangay Caduha-an, Cadiz City.*
