BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Army soldiers yesterday overran a temporary encampment of the New People’s Army, following an encounter with rebel remnants in northern Negros, at Sitio Tinibyangan in Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Lt. Col. Jay-Jay Javines, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said that Army soldiers responded to reports by civilians of the presence of armed rebels, which subsequently triggered about 15 minutes of gun battle.
An estimated 10 rebels fled, abandoning their temporary hideout as Army soldiers pressed their pursuit operations, following heavy traces of bloodstains along the withdrawal route, Javines said.
No casualty was reported on the government side while soldiers recovered personal belongings from the abandoned rebel camp, Javines said.
He added that the fleeing rebels form part of the dismantled Northern Negros Front, led by Ka Rigor, who are trying to recover lost territory.*