BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO – A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion in Sitio Caranawan, Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on the morning of Dec. 6.
The identity of the casualty has not been confirmed.
The Army unit was operating in the area following reports of unlawful activities by the NPA.
According to the 62nd Infantry Battalion, the rebels were engaged in extortion and had plans to carry out attacks in the vicinity as part of their propaganda activities, particularly in the lead-up to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) anniversary on Dec. 26.
The encounter, which occurred around 8 a.m., involved five members of the NPA’s Central Negros 1 faction.
The firefight lasted approximately five minutes, resulting in the rebels’ retreat.
Government forces recovered a grand rifle, a .45 pistol, a backpack, and documents deemed subversive at the scene./PN
