BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Two soldiers were killed while six others were wounded as the battle between the Philippine Army and New People’s Army (NPA) entered its third day on Oct. 8 in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
Authorities have yet to release the names of the casualties as the Army is still in the process of informing their next of kin.
Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Benedict Arevalo, said elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB), who had been conducting combat operations in the area since Oct. 6, again encountered more or less 20 NPA insurgents around 8:50 a.m. on Saturday.
The soldiers were reported to be following the trail of blood along the NPA’s retreat route.
Arevalo said they believe that the NPA insurgents also suffered at least six casualties.
A total of four gunfights were recorded between Thursday and Saturday.
The Philippine Army sent troops of the 94IB in the area after receiving information of NPA insurgents conducting extortion activities there.
Following Saturday’s gun battle which lasted for at least 20 minutes, the Philippine Air Force airlifted eight soldiers to Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City where they were subsequently rushed to the Riverside Medical Center for treatment.
Two of them were reported to have passed away en route.
Arevalo lauded the 94IB for their focused military operations against the remaining NPA members harassing the peace-loving people of Barangay Carabalan.
The 3ID commander also thanked the local populace for their unceasing support to the Army by giving correct and timely information on the location of NPA insurgents.
“I condole with the families of the two fallen heroes for their bravery and heroism in protecting and securing the peace-loving people of Himamaylan City and Negros island. Their loss will serve as our inspiration and motivation to reach our long-time quest for a just and lasting peace not only in Negros Island but also in the whole Western and Central Visayas,” Arevalo said.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental joined the mourning for two soldiers.
“The province mourns the loss of our two soldiers who were killed during the encounter in Barangay Carabalan yesterday (Saturday) morning,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said in a statement on Sunday, Oct. 9.
Lacson said the fallen soldiers displayed “the highest form of bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism”.
“This we must always honor and must never forget. They lost their lives in action, in the pursuit of peace for the province, and for the security of the people of Himamaylan and Negros Occidental,” he added. (With a report from PNA)/PN