ILOILO City – A member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was killed and one other was wounded in an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) on Wednesday in Barangay Igpaho, Tubungan, Iloilo.
Slain soldier Private First Class Rodelo Alfanza Palma of Negros Occidental was assigned to the 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB). He succumbed to a gunshot wound to the neck.
Palma’s companion with the rank of Sergeant, meanwhile, is currently confined in a hospital.
The incident happened at 10:30 a.m., while personnel of the 61IB were conducting a combat operation in the said area.
They clashed with 15 armed men of the Puregold (SYP) Platoon, SPF, KR-Panay under Nahum Camariosa alias “Bebong,” according to Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
Javines said that the firefight lasted for 12 minutes after the rebels scampered in different directions.
The army believed that there were undetermined casualties on the rebels’ side due to heavy bloodstains found in their withdrawal route, Javines added.
“As of now, our soldiers are still conducting a hot pursuit operation against the rebels. We also sent more personnel to the area for augmentation,” he said.
On the other hand, Brigadier General Michael Samson, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, was saddened by the death of their soldier and for the wounded other.
“We extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family of our comrade who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our people and nation. Another hero sacrificed his life to give peace a chance. The death of our companion does not terrify us, but instead, it reminds us to give our very best to put an end to the decades-long cruelty of the rebels,” Samson said./PN
