BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Around 553 individuals fled their homes while two high-powered firearms were recovered as a result of the gun battle between the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) and the New People’s Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of Sitio Dangalon, Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Thursday night, May 11.
Brigadier General Orlando Edralin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said the soldiers engaged about 15 fighters of the NPA’s Sentro De Grabidad Platoon – Central Negros 2 after the rebels were spotted asking for medicines for their comrades wounded during a clash last week in adjacent Himamaylan City.
The 94IB soldiers did not suffer any casualty, although several of the rebels may have been wounded as bloodstains were discovered in their withdrawal route after about 20 minutes of gun battle, according to Lieutenant Colonel Van Donald Almonte, 94IB commander.
During the clearing operation, troops recovered an M16 rifle, an M4 rifle, two magazines for M16, 11 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, a bandolier, a backpack, and personal belongings.
Data from the Philippine Army as of Friday noon showed there were 15 individuals from three families staying at the barangay hall of Buenavista in Himamaylan City; 136 individuals from 24 families (Paloypoy Integrated School); 170 individuals from 34 families (Paloypoy Church); and 232 individuals from 61 families (Barangay Hilamonan gymnasium).
All internally displaced persons have been provided food packs by the City Social Welfare and Development Office of their local government units.
On May 3, an encounter took place in Sitio Paloypoy-Daku and Sitio Ulo-Tuburan, Barangay Buenavista. The Army reported one rebel casualty it identified as Crispin Tingal, 36, of Sitio Dangalon, Barangay Hilamonan. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
