AKLAN – Soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion (82IB) and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels clashed in Sitio Odiong, Barangay Manika, Libacao town in this province around 4:13 p.m. on Friday, August 30.
Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, spokesperson for the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said the firefight between the government troops and the around 15 members of the NPA’s Regional Sentro De Gravidad and Central Front Weakened Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay lasted for 15 minutes before the rebels fled.
However, the fleeing rebels again encountered the blocking force of the 82IB, with the gun battle lasting for about five minutes.
Recovered from the second encounter site were an APM detonator, two rifle grenades, ammunition, and personal belongings.
“This group of rebels was the same group encountered by the government troops in the towns of Calinog and Lambunao, Iloilo recently. Maybe from Iloilo, they hid in Aklan province, but they didn’t know that we also have soldiers deployed in the area,” said Javines.
The 3ID spokesperson added that the encounters are stern warning to the remaining rebels who still refuse to surrender.
“We will continue to run after them if they refuse to surrender. We keep on calling them to surrender and avail themselves of the government’s program,” Javines added.
For his part, 3ID commander Major General Marion Sison lauded the bravery and dedication of the operating troops in pursuing the fleeing rebels.
Sison also thanked the Aklanons for their support and cooperation by providing positive information on the presence of the rebels .
“This only showed that the terrorist group is not welcome and has no place in their area. We will not rest until every single rebel is accosted. With the overwhelming popular support on our side, it would only be just a matter of time that our troops will put all of you in a corner where you have nowhere to run. Hence, I urge the remaining members of the communist terrorist goup to embrace the path to peace and return to the folds of the law,” Sison said./PN
