ILOILO City – Philippine Army soldiers and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels clashed in Barangay Danao, Leon, Iloilo two days after an encounter in the adjacent village of Bucari.
Troops of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) figured in a 30-minute firefight around 11:44 a.m. yesterday with armed men believed to be members of the NPA’s Sibat Platoon, Southern Front Committee.
No 61IB troopers were wounded in the firefight, according to Major Cenon Pancito, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division.
He did not discount the possibility that a number of rebels may have been wounded or even died.
Recovered from the clash site were the following:
* homemade M79 with 12 ammunition
* hand grenade
* anti-personnel landmine with 50 meters detonating cord
* 62 rounds 7.62-MM ammunition
* 15 back packs
* two cellular phones
* pocket wifi
* laptop
* hand-held radio
* gas stove
* assorted medical equipment
* dried marijuana leaves
* subversive documents and personal belongings
“Ang mga rebelde hindi ‘yan basta-basta mang–i-iwan ng gamit kung wala silang wounded,” Pancito said.
Over the weekend, troops of 61IB clashed with the NPA’s Southern Panay Front in Barangay Bucari.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61IB commander, the encounter erupted in the afternoon of Jan. 24 in Bucari‘s Sitio Tabionan.
Batara said government troops were in the area to check on the reported presence of the communist rebels when they encountered 30 NPA rebels believed to be under the leadership of Melgar “Ka Mar” Besmanos.
A 20-minute firefight ensued until the NPA rebels withdrew in different directions. According to Batara, there may be wounded NPA rebels based on blood trails.
Recovered from the encounter site were two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a detonator and wires.
Batara urged local residents to immediately report to authorities of presence of suspected NPA rebels in their villages./PN
