BACOLOD City – Three alleged New People’s Army (NPA) fighters were killed in a clash against 79th Infantry Battalion troopers (79IB) of the Philippine Army in Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Lieutenant Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, battalion commander of 79IB, deployed his troops in the area after receiving reports of NPA’s extortion activities.
According to Logan, the gun battle against the 12 NPA rebels lasted for about 30 minutes at 5:30 p.m. on April 17.
The government troops recovered high-powered firearms including an AK 47 rifle, an M16 rifle, seven AK47 magazines with live bullets, five M16 magazines with live bullets, four M14 magazines with live bullets, three rifle grenades, two handheld radios, backpacks, and subversive documents after the terrorist withdrew.
“The residents gave us reliable information on the exact location of the terrorist organization which resulted to a successful neutralization of their members,” Logan said./PN
