BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Army soldiers recovered war materials and food supplies following twin encounters with New People’s Army rebels in Sitio Malikolik, Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed that the launching of an attack by the CPP-NPA was prevented after soldiers of the 94th Infantry was informed by residents of presence of rebels in the area.
Pasaporte also said that a group of rebels were extorting food supplies from residents in the area, which prompted the response of 94IB personnel, who were conducting Community Support Program (CSP) sustainment operations in Sitio Lonoy, also in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City.
The encounter that ensued at 9:40 a.m. yesterday resulted in the rebels scampering in various directions.
Two hours after, the fleeing NPA rebels were encountered by Army soldiers about a kilometer away from the first encounter site.
Left behind by the fleeing rebels were a generator set, two improvised explosive devices, two rifle grenades, a bandolier with four magazines loaded with ammunition, three cellular phones, seven jungle packs, three M-16 magazines loaded with ammunition and another empty M-16 magazine, 100 kilos of rice, six CPP-NPA flags and other subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Pasaporte also reported that bloodstains were also discovered along the rebel’s withdrawal routes, which may indicate that they suffered casualties.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said that the two encounters will significantly disrupt the CPP-NPA extortion schemes and support system.*
