By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — Government troops and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members engaged in an armed encounter in Sitio Sandana, Brgy. Mansangahan, Bais City, Negros Oriental yesterday.
A soldier and a rebel were killed, said Lt. Col. Harold Anthony Pascua, commander of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion.
Pascua refused to disclose the identities of the fatalities pending the notification of their relatives.
He said his troops were conducting security operations in the village at about 10:54 a.m. when more or less 15 armed men believed to be members of the NPA Southeast Front–Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros fired at them.
“The encounter lasted for about 30 minutes,” he said. “The NPA rebels withdrew, leaving behind one of their dead comrades.”
Pascua said the residents informed the military that the armed men were extorting some of them while trying to recruit young villagers to join their movement.
The military recovered from the encounter site 15 ponchos, kitchen utensils and personal belongings.
Government troops were currently conducting a hot pursuit against the fleeing rebels.
Police’s Scene of the Crime Operatives were investigating the encounter site./PN
