BACOLOD City – A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a military-rebel clash on the boundary of Upper Carol-an in Ayungon, Negros Oriental and Barangay Carol-an, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental early Saturday.
Troops of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) received and acted on a report of local residents about the presence of 15 fully-armed men in their village.
The firefight lasted for about 20 minutes. The rebels withdrew.
As of this writing, the slain rebel remained unidentified. His body was found during the clearing operations.
High-powered firearms, an anti-personnel mine, two bandoliers, and subversive documents were also seized.
The commanding officer of the 62IB, Lieutenant Colonel Egberto Dacoscos, said the people are aware of the communist group’s extortion activities.
“They are now our main source of reliable information,” he added.
Dacoscos assured the public that the Armed Forces will continue to protect the people of Negros.
“We will put an end to rebels’ terroristic activities,” he stressed.
Dacoscos also urged residents to continuously support the Army by reporting the presence of terrorist armed group in their areas./PN
