• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The twin encounters between Army soldiers and remnants of the New People’s Army on Monday led to the temporary displacement of 116 families, composed of 480 individuals, in three hinterland sitios of Barangay Carol-an, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The affected families are residents of sitios Tagoc, Bobon, and Matampa in Brgy. Carol-an, Kabankalan City, and are temporarily staying at Carol-an barangay gymnasium, where they were provided with essential food packs and medicine, courtesy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez.
The two encounters in Sitio Tagoc, Brgy. Carol-an, Kabankalan City, between 94IB soldiers and an estimated nine members of remnants of the dismantled Central Negros 2 guerilla front, led to the recovery of four M16 assault rifles, a 5.56mm carbine rifle, two rifle grenades, two backpacks, and a bandoleer containing magazines filled with ammunition.
According to Army regional spokesman Lt. Col. J Jay Javines, traces of bloodstains were also discovered at the encounter, which indicated that some of the fleeing rebels may have been injured in the gunbattle, while no one soldiers were reported hurt.
In a dialog with the displaced families, which was facilitated by the 94th Infantry Battalion at the covered court of Brgy. Carol-an on May 7, Mayor Benjie Miranda assured residents that law enforcement is effectively managing the situation, as he urged them of their continued vigilance and support in the effort of the Philippine Army to maintain peace and progress.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander, thanked the community for their support, as he urged those involved with the NPA to surrender.
Rep. Alvarez, on the other hand, gave P10,000 to Carol-an barangay chairman Jocerel Paculanang for the food of affected families, aside from loaves of bread distributed by her staff.
She added that she also informed Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the encounters, and requested family food packs for distribution to the affected families.*
