BACOLOD City – Three 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) troopers of the Philippine Army were injured after trading gunfire against 30 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Minautok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
According to Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, the injured soldiers – whose names have yet to be identified – sustained slight abrasions on the hands and near the armpit. They already received medical treatment.
On Wednesday around 5:30 a.m., troopers of the 79IB conducted a combat operation in Calatrava’s remote village after receiving reports of NPA’s presence in the area.
The firefight lasted for an hour after which the NPAs withdrew towards north and northwest directions of said barangay. Five NPA members meanwhile were injured based on initial investigations.
They recovered a magazine with eight ammunitions for Garrand Carbine rifle; three cellular phones; two powerbanks; memory card; sim card; a pair of boots; hammock; poncho and 10 kilos of rice./PN
