BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – At least four suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed while another, an alleged high-ranking rebel, was captured in a gun battle with the government troops in Sitio Balik-balik, Barangay Tabug, Ilog, Negros Occidental yesterday.
Police have yet to identify the fatalities. The captured’s identity has also not yet been revealed as of press time.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, said troops of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force, 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade encountered an undetermined number of suspected NPA rebels around 7:20 a.m.
The gun battle lasted for at least 10 minutes until the insurgents were forced to retreat.
Initial information gathered by the police indicated at least three more rebels may have been wounded.
The police, meanwhile, did not suffer any casualties.
Nine people near the encounter site were held for questioning.
Cops recovered four M16 assault rifles in the encounter site.
As of press time, clearing operations were ongoing./PN
