BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson renewed his appeal to New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to surrender following this week’s gun battle in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
The clash ended with four NPA rebels dead, according to the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde).
Two soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) were also wounded.
Lacson said the rebels should give up armed struggle.
The provincial government will help rebels reintegrate to society and provide them with livelihood, he added.
Lacson said rebels who surrender automatically benefit from the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Earlier, 303IBde commander, Colonel Orlando Edralin, said wounded NPA rebels who surrender will be sent to the hospital for treatment.
He believe a lot of rebels that clashed with 94IB troops on March 1 were wounded.
Brigadier General Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the NPA “suffered a huge debacle” in the recent encounter.
“Expect relentless military operation in the coming days and weeks,” Sison said./PN
