ILOILO City – Philippine Army troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels clashed in Sitio Lay, Barangay Dalije, Miag-ao, Iloilo yesterday around 11 a.m.
The gunfight between the Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) soldiers and the rebels stretched for some 20 minutes, according to Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot, 61IB commander.
The rebels belonged to the NPA’s Southern Front Committee, he added.
The 61IB deployed troops to the mountainous barangay following reports that rebels were having recruitment activities here.
“Villagers were afraid of the rebels who extorted money from them and were recruiting people,” said Magbalot.
None from the government troops were injured in the gunfight which stopped only when the rebels retreated to the mountains.
This was the second encounter between Army soldiers and the rebels in southern Iloilo in three days. Just this Jan. 11, soldiers of the 61IB repelled some 20 rebels from Sitio Tigmahan, Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao.
The soldiers were in Barangay Alimodias in response to complaints from villagers regarding rebels demanding rice from them, according to Magbalot.
Around 8:05 a.m. the soldiers spotted what appeared to be an encampment of 20 armed persons. They fired at the rebels.
Magbalot said the rebels fired back but eventually retreated toward the mountains of Sibalom, Antique.
Soldiers recovered from the rebels’ abandoned camp several backpacks, improvised explosive devices, an NPA flag, plastic cups, and subversive documents, said Magbalot.
“We did not find blood there or wounded rebels. They may likely be all unscathed,” said Magbalot.
Magbalot warned the rebels to better surrender or face “intense combat operations” from government troops.
Friday’s encounter happened two days after President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to provide NPA members housing and livelihood if they return to the government’s fold./PN
