• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Armed skirmishes have again ensued between Army soldiers and suspected New People’s Army rebels at Sitio Cansampo, Brgy. Bagtic, La Libertad, Negros Oriental, yielding a gun with ammunition, the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion reported during the weekend.
Members of the 62IB were conducting combat operations in response to information relayed to them by civilians, when they encountered nine NPA rebels in the place, resulting in a firefight that lasted approximately five minutes.
The fleeing rebels left behind two backpacks containing personal belongings and subversive documents, and a caliber .357 revolver with four ammunition.
None of the 62IB soldiers were hurt, and they are still tracking down the fleeing NPA rebels as of press time.
Lt. Col. William Pesase, 62IB commander, reiterated his call for the fleeing injured rebels to surrender so that they can be given proper medical treatment.
Three weeks ago, nine rebels died in encounters with the 62IB in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, and Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Pesase said they are giving a chance for rebel remnants to return to fold of law, before it will be too late for, as they will not stop hunting them down.*
