• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Armed skirmishes between Army soldiers and remnants of the New People’s Army ensued during the weekend in the hinterlands of Toboso and Cauayan in Negros Occidental, led to the recovery of war materials, including firearms, explosives and assorted ammunition.
A series of encounters in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, on Sunday, also led to slight injuries to an Army soldier.
The first encounter between three suspected NPA members and patrolling soldiers of the 15th Infantry Battalion took place on Saturday in Sitio Lomboy, Brgy. Caliling, Cauayan town.
Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, Public Affairs Office chief of 3rd Infantry Division, disclosed that rebel remnants fled after almost 30 minutes of a running gunbattle, leaving behind three back packs containing a caliber .45 pistol with a magazine containing six ammunition, two rifle grenades, several blasting caps for improvised explosive device (IED), 69 ammunition for 12 gauge shotgun and M16 assault rifle, two magazines of AK 47 rifle, and two CPP-NPA flags, among other personal belongings.
Ebalan also believes that some of the fleeing rebels may have been injured, as indicated by bloodstains discovered along their withdrawal route.
No evacuations of civilians were reported as the encounter site is far from the nearest populated area, according to Ebalan.
Another gun battle also ensued between 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers and rebel remnants in Sitio Plariding, Brgy. Salamanca, Toboso, on Sunday.
Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed that the running gunbattle led to the injury of an Army soldier, who is now in a stable condition.
Dumosmog said pursuing Army soldiers recovered several firearms while scouring the encounter sites.
1Lt Fevie Fajardo, Civil Military Officer of 79IB, disclosed that the group of Roger Fabillar, alias Jhong, was reported to have been encountered by the patrolling Army soldiers.
A bounty of P2 million is being offered for the arrest of Fabillar, for his involvement in series of killings of civilians in northern Negros.*
