BY NYARIKA DOMANAIS
BACOLOD City – Food packs and medicines were given to residents of Barangay Carol-an, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental displaced by the recent encounter between the Philippine Army and New People’s Army rebels.
The Kabankalan City Government through its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), together with the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB), initiated the distribution of assistance to a total of 116 families, or 480 individuals, on Tuesday, May 7.
Lieutenant Colonel Van Donald L. Almonte, commanding officer of 94IB, said the activity also aimed to raise awareness about insurgency, shedding light on the deceptive tactics employed by the rebels.
Almonte also expressed gratitude to the community for their support and again urged those involved with the NPA to surrender.
For his part, Mayor Benjie M. Miranda assured the residents that the law enforcement effectively manages the situation.
He also urged continued vigilance and support for the Philippine Army’s efforts to maintain peace and progress.
On Monday afternoon, May 6, troops of the 94IB seized several high-powered firearms after an encounter with NPA remnants in the hinterlands of Kabankalan City.
Almonte said the troops responded to reports from residents of Sitio Tagok, Barangay Carol-an about the continued extortion activities of communist rebels.
“We initiated a combat operation at the specified location, where the troops first encountered around 10 communist terrorists at 3:39 p.m. The firefight lasted for 10 minutes,” he added.
By 4:41 p.m., pursuing forces engaged seven NPA rebels for about five minutes, about a kilometer away from the first encounter site.
According to the 94IB report, the troops encountered remnants of the dismantled Central Negros Front 2, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.
The government troops recovered four M16 rifles, one carbine rifle, and two rifle grenades as well as four long and two short magazines of M16 with 139 rounds of live ammunition and a carbine magazine with two live ammunitions.
They also found a bandolier and two backpacks. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
