ILOILO City – Philippine Army soldiers and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels clashed in Barangay Barangay Pudpud, Miagao, Iloilo.
Troops of 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) figured in a five-minute firefight with 15 armed men early morning yesterday.
Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61IB commander, said his men were conducting a community security patrol in the area.
No 61IB troopers were wounded in the firefight while there were an undetermined numbers of casualties on the enemy side, he added.
According to Batara, the armed men were believed to be members of the Suyak Platoon, Southern Front Committee of NPA Panay.
He vowed that his unit will continue its peace advocacy and counter-insurgency campaign in the communities.
“These communist insurgents are going out of their foxholes after they were denounced by the local populace during the indignation rally at Barangay San Jose, Miag-ao, Iloilo. We will not allow these terrorist groups harm our people and destroy their families,” Batara said.
On Monday night, the same rebels reportedly harassed the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment in the said barangay by firing their guns several times then left.
Major Cenon Pancito III, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said what the rebels did was a sign of cowardice.
“Gusto lang nila mang-harass to make their presence felt but the populace in the area was affected,” Pancito added.
The 3ID deployed more soldiers in the pursuit operations against the armed group./PN
