BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAG
BACOLOD City – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed while a civilian was wounded after in a gun battle that erupted between the insurgents and soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion in the boundary of Himamaylan City and Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Wednesday afternoon, May 3.
Authorities have yet to identify the rebel as of this writing.
A wounded female civilian has also not yet been identified although authorities noted that her wound is non-life threatening. She was hit by a stray bullet.
Meanwhile, a total of 200 families from Sitio Paloypoy, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City were forced to flee due to the encounter.
Brigadier Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde), said the gun battle began at around 5 p.m. Elements of Alpha Company of the 94IB encountered at least 15 NPA rebels.
It lasted for 20 minutes until the rebels were forced to retreat, Edralin said.
Two soldiers from the 94IB were also wounded, although Edralin said they were in stable condition and recovering at a hospital.
Edralin said they were continuing their pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels as of press time.
Meanwhile, Kabankalan City’s Mayor Benjie Miranda said they distributed food packs to 200 displaced families sheltering at the covered court of the city’s Barangay Hilamunan.
Executive Assistant Jane Fabruga also visited the families representing Himamaylan City’s Mayor Raymund Tongson.
The families were told to stay put for now at the Barangay Hilamunan covered court while awaiting an “all clear” from both the 94IB and local law enforcement./PN
