BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A suspected New People’s Army rebel yesterday died in an encounter with Army soldiers in Sitio Bulasot, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed that 94th Infantry Battalion soldiers were on security patrol in response to reports of civilians on the presence of armed rebels, believed to be members of the Central Negros Front 2 of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor in the area, when they were fired upon by rebels.
Pasaporte reported that the firefight lasted about 45 minutes, after which the rebels were prompted to withdraw in different directions, leaving behind the body of their slain comrade at the encounter site.
An M-16 assault rifle was also recovered at the scene of encounter.
He however said the identity of the slain rebel has not been established as of this time.
Pasaporte also reported that there was no soldier injured in the gun battle.*
