BACOLOD City – Paramilitary troopers seized bullet shells and various personal items from rebels they encountered in Sitio Pacama, Barangay Magballo, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last Friday afternoon.
Members of the Dacongcogon Cafgu Active Auxiliary Detachment under the 15th Infantry Battalion patrolled the area after they were informed by residents of the rebels’ extortion activities, a report from the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade showed.
They engaged some 10 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a firefight that lasted about 15 minutes beginning 1:55 p.m. on Jan. 18.
The report said the rebels fled to various directions, leaving some of their belongings.
Among those they left were 11 AK47 rifle bullet shells, a jungle knife, a jungle bolo, a hammock, a flashlight, a sweatshirt, a blanket, three pairs of slippers, a bottle of Vitamin C tablets, and food items.
During the encounter, the Army deployed two helicopters to Magballo for possible close air support.
The encounter came a week after a Philippine Army trooper was wounded in a clash with NPA rebels who attacked a patrol base of the 62nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Hilamonan, also in Kabankalan City.
Corporal Andin Jamison sustained minor injury on his right thigh. (With a report from PNA/PN)
