BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – A gun battle between the elements of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) and New People’s Army (NPA) insurgentsresulted in the seizure of an alleged hideout used by the rebels in Sitio Maliko-liko, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
According to the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), the latest gun battle on Oct. 12 – the sixth to take place since the initial encounter on Oct. 6 – was a result of a tip-off coming from the residents of the village’s Sitio Cunalom.
The gun battle lasted for five minutes.
The hideout could accommodate up to 20 persons, 3ID said.
Soldiers recovered a radio, utility ropes and personal belongings believed to be from a female NPA terrorist.
No one was hurt among the 94IB personnel, while at least one NPA rebel may have incurred serious wounds in the fight as evidenced by the heavy blood stains along one of the positions held by the rebels during the gun battle, Army said.
Major Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander, lauded the continuous support of the Negrenses by giving reliable and accurate information to the troops, which led to the discovery of NPA hideout and other paraphernalia.
Arevalo also urged the troops deployed in Himamaylan City, especially the 94IB, to continue hunting down the retreating NPA rebels, as they believe that the rebels are suffering from exhaustion and are running out of ammunition to fight off the government forces.
“The continuous tip-off of the Negrenses to the Army indicates that the Army is winning the hearts and minds of the people. Their overwhelming support for our soldiers is also an affirmation that they are now enlightened on the deception and atrocities of the NPAs,” he added.
The 3ID commander has also called on the remaining NPA rebels in Himamaylan to stop fleeing and surrender if they don’t want to end up like their leader, Romeo “Ka Juanito Magbanua” Nanta.
Last week, Nanta’s remains were discovered following a gun battle with members of the 94IB.
Nanta, commanding officer of the Regional Operational Command of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, as well as spokesperson of the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, has several pending arrest warrants for murder, frustrated murder, robbery, and damage to property./PN
